Semiconductor integrated circuit device

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a plurality of first memory cells each of which includes a cell transistor whose gate terminal is connected to a word line and a ferroelectric capacitor which is connected at one end to a source terminal of the cell transistor. The drain terminals of the cell transistors of are used as a first local bit line, the other end of each of the ferroelectric capacitors are used as a first plate line. A first reset transistor has a source terminal connected to the first plate line and a drain terminal connected to the first local bit line. A first block selection transistor has a source terminal connected to the first local bit line and a drain terminal connected to a first bit line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/780,590, filed Feb. 19, 2004, now abandoned, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromprior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-329851, filed Sep. 22, 2003,No. 2003-429163, filed Dec. 25, 2003; and No. 2004-263383, filed Sep.10, 2004, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device andmore particularly to a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory, for example.

2. Description of the Related Art

At present, semiconductor memories are used in various fields rangingfrom main memories of large-scale computers to personal computers, homeelectrical appliances, mobile telephones and the like. Various types ofsemiconductor memories such as volatile DRAMs (Dynamic Random AccessMemories), SRAMs (Static RAMs), nonvolatile MROMs (Mask Read OnlyMemories) and flash EEPROMs (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROMs)are put on the market. Particularly, the DRAM is excellent in the highoperation speed and dominantly controls the market because of the lowcost thereof (the cell area is ¼ times that of the SRAM) although it isa volatile memory. The rewritable nonvolatile flash EEPROM can storeinformation even after the power supply is turned OFF. However, sincethe flash memory has disadvantages that the number of rewritingoperations (the number of W/E operations) is approximately 10⁶, thewrite time is approximately several micro seconds and application ofhigh voltage (12V to 22V) is required for writing, it is not put on themarket as wisely as the DRAM.

On the other hand, a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory using aferroelectric capacitor is nonvolatile and has advantages that thenumber of rewriting operations is approximately 10¹², the read/writetime is approximately equal to that of the DRAM and low operationvoltage of 3V to 5V is used. Therefore, the nonvolatile ferroelectricmemories have a possibility of occupying the whole memory market andvarious makers have studied and developed the nonvolatile ferro-electricmemories since they were proposed in 1980.

FIG. 44 shows memory cells with the one-transistor/one-capacitorconfiguration of the conventional ferroelectric memory and the cellarray configuration. The memory cell configuration of the conventionalferroelectric memory is a configuration in which a transistor and acapacitor are connected in series. The cell array includes bit lines BLvia which data is read out, word lines WL by which a memory celltransistor is selected and plate lines PL connected to drive one-sideends of corresponding ferroelectric capacitors. As shown in FIGS. 45,46, in the ferro-electric memory, the memory cell configuration is afolded bit line configuration in which each memory cell is arranged inevery two intersections of the word line WL and bit lines BL. Therefore,when the wiring width and the distance between the wirings are set to F,there occurs a problem that the minimum cell size is limited to2F×4F=8F².

Further, in order to prevent destruction of polarization information ofthe ferroelectric capacitor of the non-selected cell, it is necessary todivide the plate line for each word line and individually drive theplate line portions. In addition, since the individual plate lines areeach connected to a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors arranged in aword line direction, the load capacitance becomes larger. Further, sincethe pitch of plate line drive circuits is set equal to that of the wordlines and is extremely small, the size of the plate line drive circuitcannot be made large. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 47, the delaytime at the time of rise/fall of the plate line potential becomes largerand, as a result, there occurs a problem that the operation speedbecomes low.

FIG. 48 shows a configuration in which the plate line is commonly used.FIG. 49 shows a phenomenon of disturb generated by using theconfiguration of FIG. 48 and occurring in the ferroelectric capacitor ofa non-selected cell. As shown in FIG. 48, the operation speed can beenhanced and the number of plate line drive circuits can be reduced bypermitting cells connected to different word lines to commonly use theplate line and plate line drive circuit.

However, for example, when a word line WL0 is selected, the potential ofa connection node of the plate line PL and the ferroelectric capacitorof a cell connected to a non-selected word line WL1 is raised frompotential Vss to internal power supply potential Vaa at the active timeby commonly using the plate line PL. At this time, the potential of anode SN1 of the non-selected cell is also raised to the potential Vaa bycoupling of the ferroelectric capacitor. In this case, the potential ofthe node SN1 is set to a potential level which is slightly lower thanthe potential Vaa by the coupling ratio of a parasitic capacitance ofthe node SN1. However, there occurs no problem since the parasiticcapacitance is smaller than the capacitance of the ferroelectriccapacitor.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 49, if a long period of active time, ashort period of standby time, a long period of active time, a shortperiod of standby time, - - - are repeated, the potential of the nodeSN1 is gradually lowered due to a junction leak. As a result, when thestandby time next occurs, the potential of the plate line PL is loweredto the potential Vss and the potential of the node SN1 becomes negative.When the standby time is long, the negative potential tends to bereturned to 0V due to the junction leak or the like. However, ingeneral, the active time is approximately 10 μs, the standby time isapproximately 20 ns at minimum and the time ratio is 500. Therefore, thepotential of the node SN1 is hardly returned to the original value andstatic disturb voltage is applied to the non-selected ferroelectriccapacitor to destroy cell information.

Thus, the potential of the node SN1 is continuously lowered if thelong-time active operation is repeatedly performed. However, when itbecomes higher to some extent, the junction leak at the standby timeoccurs in a forward direction and the potential stops changing. Sinceburied-region potential is approximately 0.6V, the disturb voltage isset to approximately 0.3V. If a leak current from the ferroelectriccapacitor is larger than the junction leak current, a lowering in thepotential of the node SN1 is suppressed. However, even in this case, thetwo leak current amounts have their own distributions. That is, like thepause characteristic of the DRAM, a cell having a larger junction leakexists on the distribution due to the defect or the like. Further, inthe ferroelectric capacitor, a cell having a small leak from the crystalboundary exists on the distribution. Therefore, a cell having two badconditions imposed thereon exists and, as a result, polarizationinformation is destroyed in some cells.

Judging from the above fact, it is difficult to attain the configurationof FIG. 48. As a result, the conventional ferroelectric memory has aproblem that the plate line driving speed is low and the operation speedof the memory is low.

In order to solve the above problem, the inventor of this applicationproposed nonvolatile ferroelectric memories as described in “Jpn. Pat.Appln. KOKAI Publication No. H10-255483”, “Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAIPublication No. H11-177036” and “Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.2000-22010”. According to the above ferroelectric memories (which arehereinafter referred to as memories of the prior applications), threepoints related to (1) memory cells of small 4F² size, (2) planetransistors which can be easily formed and (3) high-speed random accessfunction which is flexible can be simultaneously attained.

FIG. 50 shows the configuration of the memory of the prior application.As shown in FIG. 50, each memory cell is configured by one celltransistor and one ferroelectric capacitor which are connected inparallel and each memory cell block is configured by serially connectinga plurality of memory cells. One end of the memory cell block isconnected to a bit line via a block selection transistor and the otherend thereof is connected to a plate. With the above configuration, asshown in FIGS. 51, 52, memory cells of the minimum 4F² size can berealized.

The operation of the memory with the above configuration is explainedbelow. At the standby time, the potentials of all of word lines WL0 toWL3 are set at the high level to set cell transistors Q0 to Q3 in the ONstate. Further, a block selection signal BS is set to a low level to setthe block selection transistor into the OFF state. Thus, both ends ofthe ferroelectric capacitor are short-circuited via the cell transistorwhich is set in the ON state. As a result, no potential differenceoccurs between the two ends and polarization information of the memorycell can be stably held.

At the active time, only the cell transistor that is connected inparallel with the ferroelectric capacitor from which it is desired toread out information is set in the OFF state and the block selectiontransistor is set in the ON state. After this, the potential of theplate line PL is set to the high level so as to permit the potentialdifference between the plate line PL and the bit line BL to be appliedonly between the two ends of the ferroelectric capacitor which isconnected in parallel with the cell transistor set in the OFF state. Asa result, polarization information of the ferroelectric capacitor isread out onto the bit line.

Thus, even when the memory cells are connected in series, informationwhich a desired ferroelectric capacitor holds can be read out byselecting a desired word line. That is, a complete random accessoperation can be performed.

Since the cell transistor of the non-selected cell is set in the ONstate, the two ends of the ferroelectric capacitor of the non-selectedcell are short-circuited via the cell transistor set in the ON state.Therefore, even if the plate line PL is commonly used by all of the celltransistors of the memory cell block, a problem of disturb voltage inthe conventional ferroelectric memory can be solved. Thus, since thearea of the plate line driving circuit can be increased while the chipsize is reduced by commonly using the plate line PL, the high-speedoperation can be realized. For example, if the plate line is commonlyused by 16 cells, the product of the area of the plate line drivingcircuit and the delay time on the plate line can be reduced to 1/16times.

In the memory of the prior application, the following problem occurs.The plate line PL can be used to realize an extremely high-speedoperation. However, since read charges and write charges move betweenthe cell transistor and the bit line BL via a plurality of celltransistors which are connected in series, delay components of the celltransistors occur. Therefore, the high-speed operation of the memory islimited. The delay time can be reduced by reducing the number of memorycells, but a merit of a reduction in the chip area is reduced to someextent.

As described above, in the conventional ferroelectric memory, thereoccurs a problem that the plate line cannot be commonly used, thehigh-speed operation cannot be attained and the cell size becomeslarger. Further, in the memory of the prior application, there occurs aproblem that the maximum speed is limited by the number ofseries-connected cells although the cell size can be reduced, the plateline can be commonly used and the high-speed operation can be performed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a first memorycell block which includes: a plurality of first memory cells each ofwhich includes a cell transistor having a gate terminal connected to aword line and ferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a sourceterminal of the cell transistor, a first reset transistor having asource terminal connected to a first plate line and a drain terminalconnected to a first local bit line with drain terminals of the celltransistors of the first memory cells used as the first local bit lineand each of the other end of the ferroelectric capacitors used as thefirst plate line, and a first block selection transistor having a sourceterminal connected to the first local bit line and a drain terminalconnected to a first bit line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a first memorycell block which includes: a plurality of first memory cells each ofwhich includes a cell transistor having a gate terminal connected to aword line and a ferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a sourceterminal of the cell transistor, a first reset transistor having asource terminal connected to a first power supply and a drain terminalconnected to a first local bit line with drain terminals of the celltransistors used as the first local bit line and the other end of eachof the ferroelectric capacitors used as a first plate line, and a firstblock selection transistor having a source terminal connected to thefirst local bit line and a drain terminal connected to a first bit line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a memory cellarray having a first memory block and a second memory cell block each ofwhich includes: a plurality of memory cells each of which includes acell transistor having a gate terminal connected to a word line and aferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a source terminal of thecell transistor, and a block selection transistor having a sourceterminal connected to a local bit line with drain terminals of the celltransistors used as the local bit line and the other end of each of theferroelectric capacitors used as a plate line, wherein drain terminalsof the block selection transistors of the first memory cell block andthe second memory cell block are connected to a bit line, the celltransistors and block selection transistors of the first memory cellblock and the second memory cell block are ON in a standby time, and theblock selection transistor of the first memory cell block is OFF and thecell transistor of the memory cell other than one selected one of thememory cells in the first memory cell block is OFF in an active time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a memory cellblock which includes: a plurality of memory cells each of which includesa cell transistor having a gate terminal connected to a word line and aferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a source terminal of thecell transistor, a reset transistor having a source terminal connectedto a plate line and a drain terminal connected to a local bit line withdrain terminals of the cell transistors used as the plate line and theother end of each of the ferroelectric capacitors used as the local bitline, and a block selection transistor having a source terminalconnected to the local bit line and a drain terminal connected to a bitline.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a memory cellgroup including a plurality of memory cell units each of which includes:a plurality of memory cells each of which includes a cell transistorhaving a gate terminal connected to a word line and a ferroelectriccapacitor connected at one end to a source terminal of the celltransistor with the other end of the ferroelectric capacitor used as afirst terminal and a drain of the cell transistor as a second terminal;and a reset transistor having a source terminal connected to a thirdterminal and a drain terminal connected to a fourth terminal, one of thefirst terminal and the second terminal of the memory cells beingconnected to the third terminal and the other end being connected to thefourth terminal; wherein the memory cell units are series-connected withthe third terminal and the fourth terminal used as its two terminals.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a semiconductorsubstrate, a plurality of cell transistors provided on a surface of thesemiconductor substrate, a local bit line provided above the celltransistors and electrically connected to one of a source diffusionlayer and a drain diffusion layer of each of the cell transistors,ferroelectric capacitors corresponding in number to the celltransistors, provided above the local bit line, each of theferroelectric capacitors has an upper electrode and a lower electrodeelectrically connected to the other one of the source diffusion layerand drain diffusion layer of corresponding one of the cell transistors,a plate line provided above the upper electrodes and electricallyconnected to the upper electrodes, a reset transistor provided on thesurface of the semiconductor substrate with one of a source diffusionlayer and a drain diffusion layer electrically connected to the plateline and the other one electrically connected to the local bit line, and

a block selection transistor provided on the surface of thesemiconductor substrate with one of a source diffusion layer and a draindiffusion layer electrically connected to a bit line provided above theplate line and the other one electrically connected to the local bitline.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: asemiconductor substrate, a plurality of cell transistors provided on asurface of the semiconductor substrate, ferroelectric capacitorscorresponding in number to the cell transistors, provided above thesemiconductor substrate, each of the ferroelectric capacitors has anupper electrode and a lower electrode electrically connected to one of asource diffusion layer and a drain diffusion layer of corresponding oneof the cell transistors, a plate line provided above the upperelectrodes and electrically connected to the upper electrodes, a resettransistor provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate withone of a source diffusion layer and a drain diffusion layer electricallyconnected to the plate line, a selection transistor provided on thesurface of the semiconductor substrate with one of a source diffusionlayer and a drain diffusion layer electrically connected to a bit lineprovided above the plate line, a first active area formed on the surfaceof the semiconductor substrate to cross gate electrodes of the celltransistors in a plane and electrically connecting the other one of thesource diffusion layer and the drain diffusion layer of the resettransistor to the other one of the source diffusion layer and the draindiffusion layer of the selection transistor, and

a plurality of second active areas formed on the surface of thesemiconductor substrate to extend in a direction different from a firstarea extending direction, connected to the first active area in theplane, and electrically connecting the other one of the source diffusionlayer and the drain diffusion layer of each one of the cell transistorsto the other one of the source diffusion layer and the drain diffusionlayer of the reset transistor.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: asemiconductor substrate; a plurality of cell transistors provided on thesurface of the semiconductor substrate; a first wiring layer providedabove the cell transistors and electrically connected to one of a sourcediffusion layer and a drain diffusion layer of each of the plurality ofcell transistors; a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors provided abovethe first wiring layer, each of the ferroelectric capacitors having anupper electrode and a lower electrode electrically connected to theother of the source diffusion layer and the drain diffusion layer ofeach of the cell transistors; a second wiring layer provided above theupper electrode and electrically connected to the upper electrode; and areset transistor provided on the surface of the semiconductor substratewith one of a source diffusion layer and a drain diffusion layerelectrically connected to the second wiring layer and the otherelectrically connected to the first wiring layer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a semiconductorsubstrate; a plurality of cell transistors provided on the surface ofthe semiconductor substrate; a plurality of ferroelectric capacitorsprovided above the cell transistors, each of the ferroelectriccapacitors having an upper electrode and a lower electrode electricallyconnected to one of a source diffusion layer and a drain diffusion layerof each of the cell transistors; a plate line provided above the upperelectrode and electrically connected to the upper electrodes of twoadjacent ferroelectric capacitors; a local bit line provided above theplate line and electrically connected to the other of the sourcediffusion layer and the drain diffusion layer of each of the celltransistors; a reset transistor provided on the surface of thesemiconductor substrate with one of a source diffusion layer and a draindiffusion layer electrically connected to the plate line and the otherelectrically connected to the local bit line; and a selection transistorprovided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate with one of asource diffusion layer and a drain diffusion layer electricallyconnected to a bit line provided above the local bit line and the otherelectrically connected to the local bit line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of a semiconductorintegrated circuit device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 1, for illustrating a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 1, for illustrating a modification ofthe second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 1, for illustrating a third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 1, for illustrating a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 1, for illustrating a fifth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of a semiconductorintegrated circuit device according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 7, for illustrating a seventhembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 7, for illustrating an eighthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 7, for illustrating a ninth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 7, for illustrating a tenth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to an eleventhembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 12, for illustrating a twelfthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 12, for illustrating a thirteenthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 12, for illustrating a fourteenthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 12, for illustrating a fifteenthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofa cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit device of FIG. 1, for illustrating a sixteenth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 is a view showing the layout which can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 17, for illustrating aseventeenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a view showing the layout which can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 17, for illustrating theseventeenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofa cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit devices of FIGS. 7 and 12, for illustrating an eighteenthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a view showing the layout which can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 20, for illustrating anineteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a view showing the layout which can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 20, for illustrating thenineteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofa cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit devices of FIGS. 7 and 12, for illustrating a twentiethembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a view showing the plane form of plate lines which can beapplied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 23, forillustrating a twenty-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofa cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit devices of FIGS. 7 and 12, for illustrating a twenty-secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a view showing the layout which can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 25, for illustrating atwenty-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a twenty-fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 27, for illustrating a twenty-fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a twenty-sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 29, for illustrating a twenty-seventhembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 29, for illustrating a twenty-eighthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 29, for illustrating a twenty-ninthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 29, for illustrating a thirtiethembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a thirty-firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 34, for illustrating a thirty-secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a thirty-thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 36, for illustrating a thirty-fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a thirty-fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 38, for illustrating a thirty-sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a data bus portion of a modem for adigital subscriber line according to a thirty-seventh embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 41 is a block diagram showing a portable telephone terminalaccording to a thirty-eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 42 is a view showing a memory card according to a thirty-ninthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 43 is a view showing a system LSI according to a fortiethembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of theconventional semiconductor integrated circuit device;

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the plane configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 44;

FIG. 46 is a view showing the cross sectional structure of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 44;

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 44;

FIG. 48 is a diagram for illustrating a problem of the conventionalsemiconductor integrated circuit device;

FIG. 49 is a diagram for illustrating a problem of the conventionalsemiconductor integrated circuit device;

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the prior application;

FIG. 51 is a view showing the cross sectional structure of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the prior application;

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing the plane configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the prior application;

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a forty-firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 53, for illustrating a forty-secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a forty-thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 55, for illustrating a forty-fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a forty-fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 57;

FIG. 59 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 57;

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 57, for illustrating a forty-sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 61 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 57, for illustrating a forty-seventhembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 62 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a forty-eighthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 62, for illustrating a forty-ninthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a fiftiethembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 64, for illustrating a fifty-firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a fifty-secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 67 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofa cell unit which can be applied to the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 64, for illustrating a fifty-third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 68 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofthe cell unit which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit device of FIG. 64, for illustrating the fifty-third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 69 is a view showing the layout which can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 64, for illustrating thefifty-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 70 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofa cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit device of FIG. 53, for illustrating a fifty-fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 71 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofthe cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit device of FIG. 53, for illustrating the fifty-fourth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 72 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofthe semiconductor integrated circuit according to a fifty-fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 73 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofthe semiconductor integrated circuit according to the fifty-fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 74 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofthe semiconductor integrated circuit according to a fifty-sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 75 is a view schematically showing the cross sectional structure ofthe semiconductor integrated circuit according to the fifty-sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 76 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit according to a fifty-seventh embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 77 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 76, for illustrating a fifty-eighthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 78 is a diagram showing the operation of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 53, which is assumed to be a 2T2C typememory cell, for illustrating the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice according to a fifty-ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 79 is a diagram showing another example of a control method of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the forty-second embodiment,for illustrating the semiconductor integrated circuit device accordingto a sixtieth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 80 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 70, 71, forillustrating a sixty-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 81 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 70, 71, forillustrating the sixty-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 82 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 70, 71, forillustrating the sixty-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 83 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 70, 71, forillustrating the sixty-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 84 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device according to a sixty-secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 85 is a diagram depicting the circuit configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit according to a sixty-third embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 86 is a plan view of the semiconductor integrated circuit accordingto the sixty-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 87 is a schematic sectional view of a device configuration that canbe applied to the sixty-third embodiment;

FIG. 88 is a schematic sectional view of the device configuration shownin FIG. 87;

FIG. 89 is another schematic sectional view of the device configurationdepicted in FIG. 87;

FIG. 90 is still another schematic sectional view of the deviceconfiguration shown in FIG. 87;

FIG. 91 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 87 to 90, forillustrating the sixty-fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 92 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 87 to 90, forillustrating the sixty-fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 93 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 87 to 90, forillustrating the sixty-fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 94 is a view showing a part of the layout which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIGS. 87 to 90, forillustrating the sixty-fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 95 is a sectional view of a modification of the sixty-fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 96 is a graph representing the operating characteristic of asemiconductor integrated circuit that is controlled by a methodaccording to a sixty-fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 97 is a timing chart illustrating a control mode of thesemiconductor integrated circuit that is controlled by the methodaccording to the sixty-fifth embodiment;

FIG. 98 is another timing chart representing another control mode of thesemiconductor integrated circuit that is controlled by the methodaccording to the sixty-fifth embodiment;

FIG. 99 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration according to asixty-sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 100 is a diagram depicting another circuit configuration accordingto the sixty-sixth embodiment;

FIG. 101 is a diagram showing still another circuit configurationaccording to the sixty-sixth embodiment;

FIG. 102 is a block diagram of a digital camera or a digital videocamera according to a sixty-seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 103 is a block diagram of a computer system according to asixty-eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 104 is a block diagram of a microprocessor chip according to asixty-ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 105 is a block diagram of a portable computer system according to aseventieth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 106 is a diagram showing a logic variable LSI according to aseventy-first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 107 is a diagram illustrating an IC card according to aseventy-second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 108 shows an automobile having a navigation system according to aseventy-third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 109 illustrates a robot according to a seventy-fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 110 depicts a display according to a seventy-fifth embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 111 shows an optical disk drive according to a seventy-sixthembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There will now be described embodiments of the present invention withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the following explanation,the same reference symbols are attached to constituents havingsubstantially the same functions and configurations and the repeatedexplanation thereof is made only when required.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductor integratedcircuit device (FeRAM) according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 1, each memory cell includes one celltransistor and one ferroelectric capacitor which are connected inseries. That is, the memory cells respectively include cell transistorsQ0 to Q3 and ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3. The gates of the celltransistors Q0 to Q3 are respectively connected to word lines WL0 toWL3. The memory cells are connected in parallel and one end of eachmemory cell is connected to a plate line PL and the other end thereof isconnected to a local bit line LBL.

A reset transistor QR is connected between the plate line PL and thelocal bit line LBL. The reset transistor QR is controlled by a resetsignal RST. Further, a block selection transistor QS is connectedbetween the local bit line LBL and a bit line BL. The block selectiontransistor QS is controlled by a block selection signal BS.

As described above, one cell block CB is configured by a plurality ofcell transistors Q0 to Q3, a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors C0 toC3, reset transistor QR, block selection transistor QS and local bitline LBL. A row decoder RD controls potentials of wirings (word linesWL0 to WL3 and the like) connected thereto. A plate line driver PLDdrives the plate line.

Next, the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofFIG. 1 is explained. At the standby time, the cell transistors C0 to C3in the cell block CB are set in the ON state. Therefore, the potentialof the plate line PL is transmitted to cell nodes SN0 to SN3. Further,at this time, the reset transistor QR is set in the ON state. Therefore,the potential of the local bit line LBL in the cell block CB is setequal to the potential of the plate line PL. Thus, the potentials of thetwo ends of the ferro-electric capacitors C0 to C3 of all of the memorycells in the cell block CB are set equal to the potential of the plateline PL. As a result, no voltage is applied across the ferroelectriccapacitors C0 to C3 at the standby time.

At the active time, the reset transistor QR in the cell block CB is setin the OFF state and the cell transistors (for example, the celltransistors Q0, Q2, Q3) of non-selected cells are set in the OFF state.Further, the block selection transistor QS is set into the ON state andthe plate line PL is driven. In this case, since only the celltransistor (for example, the cell transistor Q1) of a selected cell isset in the ON state, the potential of the plate line PL is applied toone end of the ferroelectric capacitor (for example, the ferroelectriccapacitor C1) of the selected cell and the potential of the bit line BLis applied to the other end thereof. Thus, voltage is applied across theferroelectric capacitor C1. The polarization of the ferroelectriccapacitor C1 is inverted by the voltage and, as a result, cellinformation is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1. The cellinformation is read out and supplied to the bit line BL via the localbit line LBL. The readout signal is amplified by a sense amplifier (notshown).

After readout of the cell information, data is rewritten into theferroelectric capacitor C1 with the potential of the plate line PL keptat the high level when the readout information is “0” data. When thereadout information is “1” data, data is rewritten after the potentialof the plate line PL is set to the low level. After this, the blockselection transistor QS is turned OFF and the reset transistor QR andcell transistors Q0 to Q3 are turned ON to set the standby state.

At the active time, nodes (for example, cell nodes SN0, SN2, SN3) of therespective non-selected cells are set into an electrically floatingstate. Further, since the plate line PL is commonly used by all of thememory cells in the cell block CB, and the potential of the plate lineis set to the high level. As a result, the potential of the node of thenon-selected cell is lowered by a junction leak and disturb voltage isapplied to the ferroelectric capacitor (for example, the ferroelectriccapacitors C0, C2, C3) of the non-selected cell. However, when thestandby state is set again, the potential difference applied across eachof the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 is reset to 0V. Therefore, thedisturb voltage is limited to a potential drop of the cell nodes SN0 toSN3 caused during single period of time (10 μs at maximum) of only oneactive operation. The potential drop of the cell nodes SN0 to SN3 (0.1Vor less) can be neglected, considering that cell charge is held at leastfor approximately several hundred ms in DRAM or the like.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the firstembodiment, the plate line PL is commonly used by all of the memorycells in the cell block CB. Therefore, the delay time of a signal on theplate line PL can be extremely reduced, the area of the plate line PLdriving circuit PLD can be reduced and the driving ability can beenhanced.

In the first embodiment, disturb voltage is applied to the ferroelectriccapacitor of the non-selected cell at the active time. However, eachtime the standby state is set, the potential difference between the twoends of each of the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 is reset to 0V.Therefore, a period of time in which the disturb voltage is applied isshort and a lowering in the potential of the cell node of thenon-selected cell is as small as negligible. As a result, memory celldata can be prevented from being destroyed by the disturb voltage.

Further, according to the first embodiment, only two transistorsincluding one of the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 and the block selectiontransistor QS are connected between a corresponding one of theferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 and the bit line BL in a series ofoperations during the active time. Therefore, unlike the memory cell ofthe memory in the prior application, a problem of delay caused byserially connecting a plurality of memory cells will not occur. Thus,delay caused by the series-connected cell transistors does not occurwhile the plate line PL is commonly used. As a result, the higher-speedread operation and write operation can be performed in comparison withthe conventional memory and the memory in the prior application.

Also, according to the first embodiment, since the memory cells in onecell block CB are connected to the bit line BL through one selecttransistor QS, the number of contacts of the bit line BL can be markedlyreduced. Therefore, since the capacitance of the bit line BL can be madesmall, a large number of memory cells can be connected to one bit lineBL. As a result, the area of the sense amplifier can be reduced and asignal on the bit line BL can be made large.

According to the first embodiment, since one cell can be arranged ateach of the intersections of the bit line BL and the word lines WL0 toWL3, small memory cells of approximately minimum 6F² size can berealized.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefirst embodiment (FIG. 1). More specifically, the second embodimentrelates a case wherein the potential of the plate line PL at the standbytime is set to potential Vss and the potential thereof at the drive timeis set to internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 2 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 1, for illustrating the second embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 2, at the standby time, a reset signal RST and wordlines WL0 to WL3 are set at potential Vpp (high level) and a blockselection signal BS is set at potential Vss (low level). The plate linePL and bit line BL are set at potential Vss. Therefore, the celltransistors Q0 to Q3 and reset transistor QR are set in the ON state andthe potential of the local bit line LBL in the cell block CB is setequal to the potential of the plate line PL. Thus, at the standby time,the potentials of the two ends of the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3of all of the memory cells in the cell block CB are set equal to thepotential of the plate line PL. As a result, no voltage is appliedacross the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3.

At the active time, the reset signal RST is set to the low level and thepotentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells are setto the low level. The potential of the word line WL1 of a selected cellstays at the high level. Therefore, the reset transistor QR is turnedOFF and the cell transistors Q0, Q2, Q3 of the non-selected cells areturned OFF. Further, the block selection signal BS is set to the highlevel so as to turn ON the block selection transistor QS.

In this state, the plate line PL is driven and set to internal powersupply potential Vaa. In this case, the internal power supply potentialVaa is potential generated based on power supply potential Vdd and it isalso possible to use the power supply potential Vdd. As the result ofdriving of the plate line PL, potential corresponding to information of“0” or “1” is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 to the bitline BL via the local bit line LBL by applying voltage only across theferroelectric capacitor C1 of the selected cell. Then, the potentialread out onto the bit line BL is amplified by a sense amplifier (notshown). When the readout information is “0”, the potential on the bitline is amplified to the potential Vss (typically, ground potential).When the readout information is “1”, the potential on the bit line isamplified to the internal power supply potential Vaa.

In the case of “0” information, since the bit line BL is set at thepotential Vss, the rewriting operation is performed while the plate linePL stays at the potential Vaa. In the case of “1” information, since thebit line BL is set at the potential Vaa, the rewriting operation isperformed by setting the plate line PL to the potential Vss. After this,the block selection signal BS is set to the low level and the resetsignal RST and the potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set tothe high level. Thus, the standby state is set.

At the standby time, since reset signal RST and the word lines WL0 toWL3 are set at relatively high potential Vpp, high electric field isapplied to the gate oxide films of the reset transistor QR and the celltransistors Q0 to Q3. This may reduce the reliability of the gate oxidefilms. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, it is desirable to performthe control operation for setting the potentials of the reset signal RSTand the word lines WL0 to WL3 to the potential lower than the potentialVpp (for example, potential Vaa) at the standby time and raising thepotential of the reset signal RST and the word line of the selected celltransistor to Vpp at the active time. This operation can be applied tothe following embodiments.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the secondembodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be attained.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefirst embodiment (FIG. 1). More specifically, the third embodimentrelates to a case wherein the potential of the plate line PL is fixed atVaa/2.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 1, for illustrating the third embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 4, the state at the standby time is similar to that ofthe second embodiment except that the plate line PL is driven and set toVaa/2. At the active time, a reset signal RST and potentials of the wordlines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to a low level. In this state, the potential(=Vaa/2) of the plate line PL is applied to one end of the ferroelectriccapacitor C1 and the potential (=Vss) of the bit line BL is applied tothe other end thereof by setting the block selection signal BS to thehigh level. Thus, information is read out from the ferroelectriccapacitor C1 to the bit line BL and the potential of the bit line BL isamplified to the potential Vss or Vaa.

In the case of “0” information, since the bit line BL is set at thepotential Vss and the potential of the plate line PL is set at Vaa/2,“0” information is rewritten into the ferroelectric capacitor C1. In thecase of “1” information, since the bit line BL is set at the potentialVaa and the potential of the plate line PL is set at Vaa/2, “1”information is rewritten into the ferroelectric capacitor C1. Afterthis, the block selection signal BS is set to the low level and thereset signal RST and the potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 areset to the high level. Thus, the standby state is set.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the thirdembodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be attained.Further, since high potential than the potential Vss is usually appliedto the plate line PL in the third embodiment, potential of the sourceand drain of each of the cell transistor Q0 to Q3 is as same as theplate line at standby time. Therefore, voltages applied across the celltransistor Q0 to Q3 are lowered and the electric fields applied acrossthe gate oxide films of the cell transistor Q0 to Q3 are eased. This canprevent the reliability of the semiconductor integrated circuit devicefrom reducing.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefirst embodiment (FIG. 1).

As is described in the first embodiment, two ends of each of theferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 is set at the same potential at thestandby time. Therefore, “1” information held by the ferroelectriccapacitors C0 to C3 will not be destroyed even when the potentials ofthe cell nodes SN0 to SN3 are lowered at the standby time. Thus, thepotential of the plate line PL at the standby time can be freely set.The fourth embodiment utilizes the above feature and is a modificationof the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 1, for illustrating the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 5, the state at the standby time is similar to that ofthe second embodiment except that the plate line PL is set at desiredpotential, for example, potential Vref. At the active time, a resetsignal RST and potentials of word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to a lowlevel and a block selection signal BS is set to the high level. In thisstate, the plate line PL is driven and set to internal power supplypotential Vaa so that information will be read out from theferroelectric capacitor C1. In the case of “0” information, therewriting operation is performed while the plate line PL is beingdriven. In the case of “1” information, the plate line PL is set topotential Vss to perform the rewriting operation. After this, the blockselection signal BS is set to the low level and the reset signal RST andthe potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to the highlevel. Then, the plate line PL is driven and set to the potential Vrefto set the standby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the fourthembodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be attained.Further, the potential of the plate line PL in the standby state is sethigher than the potential Vss in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, sincevoltages applied across the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 are lowered at thestandby time and the electric fields applied across the gate oxide filmsof the cell transistor Q0 to Q3 are eased, the problem of thereliability can be solved.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefirst embodiment (FIG. 1). The fifth embodiment utilizes the samefeature as the fourth embodiment and is a modification of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 6 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 1, for illustrating the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 6, the state at the standby time is similar to that ofthe second embodiment except that the plate line PL is driven and set tointernal power supply potential Vaa. At the active time, a reset signalRST and potentials of word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to a low level.In this state, voltage is applied across the ferroelectric capacitor C1by setting a block selection signal BS to the high level. As a result,information is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 to the bitline BL. The readout information is amplified by a sense amplifier. Inthe case of “0” information, the rewriting operation is performed whilethe plate line PL is being driven. In the case of “1” information, theplate line PL is set to potential Vss to perform the rewritingoperation. After this, the block selection signal BS is set to the lowlevel and the reset signal RST and the potentials of the word lines WL0,WL2, WL3 are set to the high level. Then, the plate line PL is drivenand set to the potential Vref to set the standby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the fifthembodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effects of the firstand fourth embodiments can be attained.

Sixth Embodiment

A sixth embodiment relates to a folded bit line configuration. FIG. 7shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 7, cell blocks CB0, CB1 having the same configuration asthe cell block CB of FIG. 1 are respectively connected to bit lines /BL,BL (bit line pair). The bit lines /BL, BL are connected to a senseamplifier SA.

The cell block CB0 includes cell transistors Q0 to Q3, ferroelectriccapacitors C0 to C3, reset transistor QR0, block selection transistorQS0 and local bit line /LBL. Memory cells which are respectivelyconfigured by the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 and the ferroelectriccapacitors C0 to C3 are connected in parallel. Each memory cell isconnected between the plate line /PL and the local bit line /LBL. Thereset transistor QR0 is connected between the plate line /PL and thelocal bit line /LBL. Further, the block selection transistor QS0 isconnected between the local bit line /LBL and the bit line /BL.

The cell block CB1 includes cell transistors Q4 to Q7, ferroelectriccapacitors C4 to C7, reset transistor QR1, block selection transistorQS1 and local bit line LBL. Memory cells which are respectivelyconfigured by the cell transistors Q4 to Q7 and the ferroelectriccapacitors C4 to C7 are connected in parallel. Each memory cell isconnected between the plate line PL and the local bit line LBL. Thereset transistor QR1 is connected between the plate line PL and thelocal bit line LBL. Further, the block selection transistor QS1 isconnected between the local bit line LBL and the bit line BL.

The gates of the cell transistors Q0, Q4 are connected to the word lineWL0. The gates of the cell transistors Q1, Q5 are connected to the wordline WL1. The gates of the cell transistors Q2, Q6 are connected to theword line WL2. The gates of the cell transistors Q3, Q7 are connected tothe word line WL3. The reset transistors QR0, QR1 are controlled by areset signal RST. The block selection transistors QS0, QS1 arerespectively controlled by block selection signals /BS, BS.

Next, the operation is explained the operation of each of the cellblocks CB0, CB1 is the same as that in the first embodiment. In the caseof readout of the memory cell in the cell block CB0, only the blockselection transistor QS0 is turned ON and the block selection transistorQS1 stays OFF. In this state, only the plate line /PL is driven and theplate line PL is not driven. As a result, cell information is read outto the bit line /BL. The potential of the bit line BL is used asreference potential. The potential of the bit line /BL is amplified bythe sense amplifier SA by use of the potential of the bit line BL. Thereadout operation for the memory cell in the cell block CB1 is alsoperformed in the similar manner as described above.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the sixthembodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be attainedwhile the occupying area of the sense amplifier can be reduced andnoises of the memory cell array can decreased by employing the foldedbit line configuration.

Seventh Embodiment

A seventh embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe sixth embodiment (FIG. 7). More specifically, like the secondembodiment, the seventh embodiment relates to a case wherein thepotentials of the plate lines /PL, PL at the standby time are set at thepotential Vss and the potentials thereof at the driving time are set atthe internal power supply potential Vaa. The operation is also the sameas a combination of the operations in the second and sixth embodiments.

FIG. 8 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 7, for illustrating the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 8, at the standby time, a reset signal RST andpotentials of word lines WL0 to WL3 are set at the high level and blockselection signals BS, /BS are set at a low level. The plate lines PL,/PL are set to potential Vss.

At the active time, the reset signal RST is set to the low level and thepotentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells are setto the low level. At this time, the potential of the word line WL1 of aselected cell stays at the high level. Then, the block selectiontransistor QS0 is turned ON by setting the block selection signal /BS tothe high level. The block selection signal BS is maintained at the lowlevel.

In this state, cell information is read out from the ferroelectriccapacitor C1 to the bit line /BL by driving the plate line /PL to setthe potential thereof to the internal power supply potential Vaa. Theplate line PL stays at the potential Vss. The potential read out to thebit line /BL is amplified by a sense amplifier SA and then the rewritingoperation is performed in the same manner as in the second embodiment.After this, the reset signal RST and the potentials of the word linesWL0, WL2, WL3 are set to the high level. Then, the block selectionsignal /BS is set to the low level to set the standby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the seventhembodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effects of thesecond and sixth embodiments can be attained.

Eighth Embodiment

An eighth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe sixth embodiment (FIG. 7). More specifically, like the thirdembodiment, the eighth embodiment relates a case wherein the potentialsof the plate lines PL, /PL are fixed at Vaa/2.

FIG. 9 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 7, for illustrating the eighth embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 9, the state at the standby time is similar to that inthe seventh embodiment except that the plate lines PL, /PL are drivenand set to Vaa/2. At the active time, a reset signal RST and potentialsof the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to a low level. In this state,information is read out to the bit line /BL by setting the blockselection signal /BS to the high level. The block selection signal BSstays at the low level. Then, the potential of the bit line /BL isamplified and the rewriting operation is performed in the same manner asin the third embodiment. Thus, the standby state is set in the samemanner as in the seventh embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the eighthembodiment, the same effect as the sixth embodiment can be attained.

Ninth Embodiment

A ninth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe sixth embodiment (FIG. 7). More specifically, the plate lines PL,/PL are driven in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 7, for illustrating the ninth embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 10, the state at the standby time is similar to that inthe seventh embodiment except that the plate lines PL, /PL are drivenand set to potential ref. At the active time, a reset signal RST andpotentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to a low level and ablock selection signal /BS is set to the high level. The block selectionsignal BS stays at the low level. In this state, information is read outfrom the ferroelectric capacitor C1 by driving the plate line /PL to setthe potential thereof to internal power supply potential Vaa. The plateline PL maintains the potential ref. Then, the potential of the bit line/BL is amplified and the rewriting operation is performed in the samemanner as in the fourth embodiment. After this, the standby state is setin the same manner as in the seventh embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the ninthembodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effects of thefourth and sixth embodiments can be attained.

Tenth Embodiment

A tenth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe sixth embodiment (FIG. 7). More specifically, the plate lines PL,/PL are driven in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 7, for illustrating the tenth embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation is explained below by taking a case whereininformation is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as an example.

As shown in FIG. 11, the state at the standby time is similar to that inthe seventh embodiment except that the plate lines PL, /PL are drivenand set to internal power supply potential Vaa. At the active time, areset signal RST and potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are setto a low level. In this state, information is read out from theferroelectric capacitor C1 to the bit line /BL by setting the blockselection signal /BS to the high level. The block selection signal BSstays at the low level and the plate line PL stays at the internal powersupply potential Vaa. Then, the potential of the bit line /BL isamplified and the rewriting operation is performed in the same manner asin the fifth embodiment. After this, the standby state is set in thesame manner as in the seventh embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the tenthembodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effects of the fifthand sixth embodiments can be attained.

Eleventh Embodiment

An eleventh embodiment relates to a configuration in which a plate line/PL is commonly used by two cell blocks connected to a bit line /BL inaddition to the configuration of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 7).Likewise, a plate line PL is commonly used by two cell blocks which areconnected to a bit line BL.

FIG. 12 shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to the eleventh embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 12, cell blocks CB2, CB3 which have the sameconfiguration as the cell block CB of FIG. 1 are respectively providedfor the bit lines /BL, BL.

Cell blocks CB0, CB1 are similar to those of FIG. 7 except that thelocal bit line /LBL is replaced by a local bit line /LBL0 and the localbit line LBL is replaced by a local bit line LBL0. Selection transistorsQR0, QR1 are controlled by a reset signal RST0. Block selectiontransistors QS0, QS1 are respectively controlled by block selectionsignals /BS0, BS0.

The cell block CB2 includes cell transistors Q8 to Q11, ferroelectriccapacitors C8 to C11, reset transistor QR2, block selection transistorQS2 and local bit line /LBL1. Memory cells which are respectivelyconfigured by the cell transistors Q8 to Q11 and ferroelectriccapacitors C8 to C11 are connected in parallel and each memory cell isconnected between the plate line /PL and the local bit line /LBL1.Further, the reset transistor QR2 is connected between the plate line/PL and the local bit line /LBL1. In addition, the block selectiontransistor QS2 is connected between the local bit line /LBL1 and the bitline /BL.

The cell block CB3 includes cell transistors Q12 to Q15, ferroelectriccapacitors C12 to C15, reset transistor QR3, block selection transistorQS3 and local bit line LBL1. Memory cells which are respectivelyconfigured by the cell transistors Q12 to Q15 and ferroelectriccapacitors C12 to C15 are connected in parallel and each memory cell isconnected between the plate line PL and the local bit line LBL1.Further, the reset transistor QR3 is connected between the plate line PLand the local bit line LBL1. In addition, the block selection transistorQS3 is connected between the local bit line LBL1 and the bit line BL.

The gates of the cell transistors Q8, Q12 are connected to a word lineWL4. The gates of the cell transistors Q9, Q13 are connected to a wordline WL5. The gates of the cell transistors Q10, Q14 are connected to aword line WL6. The gates of the cell transistors Q11, Q15 are connectedto a word line WL7. The selection transistors QR2, QR3 are controlled bya reset signal RST1. The block selection transistors QS2, QS3 arerespectively controlled by block selection signals /BS1, BS1.

Next, the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofFIG. 12 is explained. The operation of each of the cell blocks CB0 toCB3 is the same as the cell block in the first embodiment. At the activetime, the reset transistor QR0 (and QR1) is turned OFF and the celltransistors of non-selected cells are turned OFF in the case of readoutof the memory cell in the cell block CB0. In this case, the resettransistor QR2 (and QR3) stays ON.

Then, only the block selection transistor QS0 is turned ON and the blockselection transistors QS1 to QS3 are kept in the OFF state. In thisstate, only the plate line /PL is driven and the plate line PL is notdriven. As a result, cell information is read out to the bit line /BL.The potential of the bit line /BL is amplified by the sense amplifier SAby using the potential of the bit line BL as reference potential. Thesame readout operation as described above is performed in a case whereindata of the memory cell in the cell blocks CB1 to CB3 is read out.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the eleventhembodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be attained.Since the plate line /PL is driven when information is read out from theferroelectric capacitor in the cell block CB0, the potential of theplate line /PL is applied to the ferroelectric capacitors C8 to C11 inthe non-selected cell block CB2. However, at this time, the two ends ofeach of the ferroelectric capacitors C8 to C11 are short-circuited andset to the same potential via the reset transistor QR2 and celltransistors Q8 to Q11. Therefore, information of the ferroelectriccapacitors C8 to C11 will not be destroyed.

Further, according to the eleventh embodiment, the plate lines PL, /PLare commonly used by a plurality of cell blocks. Therefore, the area ofthe plate lines PL, /PL can be reduced and the resistances thereof canbe reduced. As a result, the driving ability of the plate line drivingcircuit DPL can be enhanced in comparison with that in the first totenth embodiments. In addition, the occupying area of the plate linedriving circuit DPL can be reduced.

Twelfth Embodiment

A twelfth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method of theplate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe eleventh embodiment (FIG. 12). More specifically, like the secondembodiment, the twelfth embodiment relates to a case wherein thepotentials of the plate lines PL, /PL at the standby time are set atpotential Vss and the potentials thereof at the driving time are set atinternal power supply potential Vaa. Also, the operation is the same asa combination of the operations of the second and eleventh embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 12, for illustrating the twelfth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 13, at the standby time, reset signals RST0, RST1 andpotentials of word lines WL0 to WL7 are set at the high level and blockselection signals BS0, /BS0 are set at the low level. The plate linesPL, /PL are set to potential Vss.

At the active time, the reset signal RST0 and the potentials of the wordlines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells are set to the low level. Atthis time, the reset signal RST1, the potential of the word line WL1 ofa selected cell and the potentials of the word lines WL4 to WL7 of thenon-selected cell blocks CB2, CB3 are kept at the high level. Then, theblock selection transistor QS0 is turned ON by setting the blockselection signal /BS0 to the high level. The block selection signalsBS0, /BS1, BS1 are maintained at the low level.

In this state, cell information is read out from the ferroelectriccapacitor C1 to the bit line /BL by driving the plate line /PL to setthe potential thereof to the internal power supply potential Vaa. Thepotential of the plate line PL stays at the potential Vss. The potentialread out to the bit line /BL is amplified by a sense amplifier SA andthen the rewriting operation is performed in the same manner as in thesecond embodiment. After this, the reset signals RST0, RST1 and thepotentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to the high level.Then, the block selection signal /BS0 is set to the low level to set thestandby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the twelfthembodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effects of thesecond and eleventh embodiments can be attained.

Thirteenth Embodiment

A thirteenth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit deviceof the eleventh embodiment (FIG. 12). More specifically, like the thirdembodiment, the thirteenth embodiment relates to a case wherein thepotentials of plate lines PL, /PL are fixed at Vaa/2.

FIG. 14 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 12, for illustrating the thirteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 14, the state at the standby time is similar to that inthe twelfth embodiment except that the plate lines PL, /PL are drivenand set to Vaa/2. At the active time, a reset signal RST0 and potentialsof word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells are set to the lowlevel. In this state, information is read out to the bit line /BL bysetting a block selection signal /BS0 to the high level. Then, thepotential of the bit line /BL is amplified. The potentials of word linesWL4 to WL7 are kept at the high level and block selection signals BS0,BS1, /BS1 are kept at the low level. Next, the potential of the bit line/BL is amplified and then the rewriting operation is performed in thesame manner as in the third embodiment. After this, the standby state isset in the same manner as in the twelfth embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thethirteenth embodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effectsof the third and eleventh embodiments can be attained.

Fourteenth Embodiment

A fourteenth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit deviceof the eleventh embodiment (FIG. 12). More specifically, the plate linesPL, /PL are driven in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 12, for illustrating the fourteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 15, the state at the standby time is similar to that inthe twelfth embodiment except that the plate lines PL, /PL are drivenand set to potential Vref. At the active time, a reset signal RST0,potentials of word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells are set toa low level and a block selection signal /BS0 is set to the high level.In this state, information is read out from the ferroelectric capacitorC1 by driving the plate line /PL to set the potential thereof tointernal power supply potential Vaa. The potentials of word lines WL4 toWL7 are kept at the high level, block selection signals BS0, BS1, /BS1are kept at the low level and the plate line PL is maintained at thepotential Vref. Next, the potential of the bit line /BL is amplified andthen the rewriting operation is performed in the same manner as in thefourth embodiment. After this, the standby state is set in the samemanner as in the twelfth embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefourteenth embodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effectsof the fourth and eleventh embodiments can be attained.

Fifteenth Embodiment

A fifteenth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit deviceof the eleventh embodiment (FIG. 12). More specifically, the plate linesPL, /PL are driven in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 12, for illustrating the fifteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 16, the state at the standby time is similar to that inthe twelfth embodiment except that the plate lines PL, /PL are drivenand set to internal power supply potential Vaa. At the active time, areset signal RST0 and potentials of word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 ofnon-selected cells are set to the low level. In this state, informationis read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 to the bit line /BL bysetting a block selection signal /BS0 to the high level. At this time,potentials of word lines WL4 to WL7 are kept at the high level, blockselection signals BS0, BS1, /BS1 are kept at the low level and the plateline PL stays at the internal power supply potential Vaa. Next, thepotential of the bit line /BL is amplified and then the rewritingoperation is performed in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment.After this, the standby state is set in the same manner as in thetwelfth embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifteenth embodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effects ofthe fifth and eleventh embodiments can be attained.

Sixteenth Embodiment

A sixteenth embodiment relates to the configuration of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of the first embodiment (FIG. 1). FIG. 17schematically shows the cross sectional structure of a cell block whichcan be applied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 1,for illustrating the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 17, source/drain regions (active regions) SD1 to SD9 areformed with a certain distance from one another on the surface of asemiconductor substrate sub. A gate electrode (block selection signalline) BS is formed above a portion of the semiconductor substrate subwhich lies between the source/drain regions SD1 and SD2 with a gateinsulating film (not shown) disposed therebetween. Likewise, gateelectrodes (word lines) WL0, WL1, WL2, WL3 are respectively formed aboveportions of the semiconductor substrate sub which lie between thesource/drain regions SD2 and SD3, SD4 and SD5, SD5 and SD6, and SD7 andSD8. Further, a gate electrode (reset signal line) RST is formed above aportion of the semiconductor substrate sub which lies between thesource/drain regions SD8 and SD9. A cell transistor QR, block selectiontransistor QS and cell transistors Q0 to Q3 are each formed of acorresponding one of the gate electrodes and the two source/drainregions adjacent to the gate electrode.

A local bit line LBL is formed above the gate electrodes WL0 to WL3. Thelocal bit line LBL is electrically connected to the source/drain regionsSD2, SD5, SD8 via contacts P1. Ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 areformed above the local bit line LBL. Each of the ferroelectriccapacitors C0 to C3 is formed of a lower electrode BE, ferroelectricfilm FC and upper electrode TE. The lower electrodes BE of theferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 are electrically connected to thesource/drain regions SD3, SD4, SD6, SD7 via contacts P2, respectively.The contacts P2 are provided on a plane different from the plane onwhich the contacts P1 are formed (on the front or rear side of thecontacts P1).

The upper electrodes TE of the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 areelectrically connected to a plate line PL formed above the upperelectrodes TE via contacts P3. The plate line PL is electricallyconnected to the source/drain region SD9 via a contact P4.

A bit line BL is provided above the plate electrode PL. The bit line BLis electrically connected to the source/drain region SD1 via a contactP5.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thesixteenth embodiment, the cell block CB of the semiconductor integratedcircuit device of the first embodiment can be realized. Further, it ispossible to attain a memory cell with approximately 6F² in size whichstretch 3F in the extending direction of the bit line BL and 2F in theextending direction of the word line WL0 to WL3.

Seventeenth Embodiment

A seventeenth embodiment relates to the layout which can be applied tothe sixteenth embodiment. FIGS. 18, 19 show the layout which can beapplied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 17, forillustrating the seventeenth embodiment of the present invention. Thecross sections taken along the XVII-XVII lines of FIGS. 18, 19correspond to FIG. 17.

As shown in FIGS. 18, 19, an active region AA1 has substantially a“V-shaped” configuration. The respective sides of the V-shapedconfiguration are arranged to cross the gate electrodes BS, WL0. Asource/drain region SD2 is formed in the apex of the V-shapedconfiguration (one end of each of the two sides) and a contact P1 isformed in this position. Source/drain regions SD1, SD3 are respectivelyformed in tips of the active area AA1 and contacts P5, P2 are formed inthe source/drain regions SD1, SD3, respectively. The active area AA1 isnot limited to the “V-shaped” configuration and can be formed in adesired form as long as coordinate values on the axes of thesource/drain regions SD1 and SD3 and the source/drain region SD2 aredifferent from each other in the gate electrode extending direction.

An active area AA2 is formed in the same manner as the active area AA1with respect to gate electrodes WL1, WL2. A source/drain region SD5 isformed in the apex of the active area AA2 and a contact P1 is formedtherein. Source/drain regions SD4, SD6 are respectively formed in tipsof the active area AA2 and contacts P2 are formed therein.

Further, an active area AA3 is formed in the same manner as the activearea AA1 with respect to gate electrodes WL3, RST. A source/drain regionSD8 is formed in the apex of the active area AA3 and a contact P1 isformed therein. Source/drain regions SD7, SD9 are respectively formed intips of the active area AA3 and contacts P2, P4 are formed in thesource/drain region SD7, SD9, respectively.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theseventeenth embodiment, the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofFIG. 17 can be realized and the same effect as the sixteenth embodimentcan be attained.

Eighteenth Embodiment

An eighteenth embodiment relates to the configurations of thesemiconductor integrated circuit devices of the sixth embodiment (FIG.7) and eleventh embodiment (FIG. 12). FIG. 20 schematically shows thecross sectional structure of a cell block CB0 which can be applied tothe semiconductor integrated circuit devices of FIGS. 7 and 12, forillustrating the eighteenth embodiment of the present invention. Cellblocks CB1 to CB3 also have the same configuration.

As shown in FIG. 20, the semiconductor integrated circuit device isdifferent from the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 17 inthe structure of plate lines PL, /PL and in that a block selectiontransistor QS1 is additionally provided. That is, a source/drain regionSD0 is formed at a distance from a source/drain region SD1 on thesurface of a semiconductor substrate sub. A gate electrode (blockselection signal line) BS1 is formed above a portion of thesemiconductor substrate sub which lies between the source/drain regionsSD0 and SD1 with a gate insulating film (not shown) disposedtherebetween. A block selection transistor QS1 is configured by thesource/drain regions SD0, SD1 and gate electrode BS1.

An interconnection layer M1 is arranged above the gate electrode BS1.The interconnection layer M1 is electrically connected to thesource/drain region SD1 via a contact P5. The bit line /BL iselectrically connected to the source/drain region SD0 via a contact P6.

An interconnection layer M2 is disposed instead of the plate line PL ofFIG. 17. The interconnection layer M2 is electrically connected to theplate line /PL provided above the bit line /BL via a contact P7.

When the cell block CB1 having the same configuration as the cell blockCB0 of FIG. 20 is provided, the interconnection layer M2 of the cellblock CB1 is electrically connected to the plate line PL via a contactP7.

Wiring layers RST, WL0 to WL3, BS0, BS1 for shunt are disposed in thesame layer (level) as that of the plate line /PL. The delay of thesignal by the resistances of the gate electrodes of the transistor RST,WL0 to WL3, BS0, BS1 can be eased by these wiring layers for shunt RST,WL0 to WL3, BS0, BS1. For example, the wiring layers for shunt RST, WL0to WL3, BS0, BS1 extend in the same direction as that of the gateelectrode, and are electrically connected to the corresponding gateelectrodes (denoted with the same reference symbols) at a certaindistance in the extending direction.

Moreover, a main block selection transistor wiring MBS for realizing ahierarchical word line system is disposed in the same layer as that ofthe metal wiring for shunt.

A configuration using either the wiring for shunt or the hierarchicalword line system is also possible.

Note that in the present and following embodiments which relate to thestructures, each transistor formed of a field transistor has beendescribed, but may also be formed by shallow trench isolation (STI).

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theeighteenth embodiment, the cell blocks CB0 to CB3 of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of the sixth and eleventh embodiments can berealized and the folded bit line configuration can be attained.

Nineteenth Embodiment

A nineteenth embodiment relates to the layout which can be applied tothe eighteenth embodiment. FIGS. 21, 22 show the layout which can beapplied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 20, forillustrating the nineteenth embodiment of the present invention. Thecross sections taken along the XX-XX lines of FIGS. 21, 22 correspond toFIG. 20.

FIGS. 21, 22 are similar to FIGS. 18, 19 except that an active area AA0and contact P6 are additionally provided. The active area AA0 is formedat a distance from an active area AA1 and the contact P6 is formed inthe above position. Like the seventeenth embodiment, the shape of theactive areas AA1 to AA3 is not limited to substantially the “V-Shape”.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thenineteenth embodiment, the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofFIG. 20 can be realized and the same effect as the eighteenth embodimentcan be attained.

Twentieth Embodiment

A twentieth embodiment relates to the configuration of a semiconductorintegrated circuit device. In the eighteenth embodiment, the plate linesPL, /PL are formed on the hierarchical layer above the bit line /BL andelectrically connected to the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 via theinterconnection layer M2. On the other hand, in the twentiethembodiment, the plate lines PL, /PL are formed on the hierarchical layerof the interconnection layer M2 as in the sixteenth embodiment.

FIG. 23 schematically shows the cross sectional structure of a cellblock CB0 which can be applied to the semiconductor integrated circuitdevices of FIGS. 7 and 12, for illustrating the twentieth embodiment ofthe present invention. As shown in FIG. 23, the semiconductor integratedcircuit device is different from the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 20 in that the interconnection layer M2 is used as theplate line /PL and the plate line PL is formed on the same hierarchicallayer of the plate line /PL. The plate line PL is formed to extend inthe same direction as the plate line /PL, for example, on a planedifferent from the plane of FIG. 23 and is electrically connected to anupper electrode TE of a cell block CB1 (not shown) via a contact P3.

According to the twentieth embodiment, the folded bit line configurationcan be attained without additionally providing an interconnection layerof an upper layer to the configuration of FIG. 17.

Twenty-First Embodiment

A twenty-first embodiment relates to the configuration of plate linesPL, /PL which can be applied to the twentieth embodiment. FIG. 24 showsthe plane configuration of the plate lines PL, /PL which can be appliedto the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 23, forillustrating the twenty-first embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 24, the plate lines PL, /PL have substantially a combshape. Portions corresponding to the teeth of the comb shape of theplate lines PL, /PL are provided in positions of the plate lines PL, /PLwhich extend in the lateral direction in FIG. 23. The plate lines PL,/PL are formed to extend over two cell blocks in the lateral directionof FIG. 24 and contacts P4 are formed in substantially the centralpositions of the portions corresponding to the teeth.

According to the twenty-first embodiment, the same effect as thetwentieth embodiment can be attained.

Twenty-Second Embodiment

A twenty-second embodiment relates to the configuration of asemiconductor integrated circuit device. In the sixteenth to twentiethembodiments, the local bit lines LBL (local bit lines /LBL, LBL0) can berealized by using the interconnection layers formed above the gateelectrodes WL0 to WL3. On the other hand, in the twenty-secondembodiment, it is realized by use of an active area.

FIG. 25 schematically shows the cross sectional structure of a cellblock which can be applied to the semiconductor integrated circuitdevices of FIGS. 7 and 12, for illustrating the twenty-second embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 25, none of the local bitline LBL(0) and contacts P1 are formed. Source/drain regions SD2, SD5,SD8 are connected to one another via an active area formed on a planedifferent from the plane of FIG. 25 (that is, on the front or rear sideof the plane). Thus, the source/drain regions SD2, SD5, SD8 areelectrically connected to one another.

According to the twenty-second embodiment, the local bit line /LBL isrealized by use of the active area. Therefore, it is not necessary toprovide the local bit line /LBL which functions as the interconnectionlayer. As a result, the same effect as the twentieth embodiment can beattained while suppressing the manufacturing cost of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device.

Twenty-Third Embodiment

A twenty-third embodiment relates to the layout which can be applied tothe twenty-second embodiment. FIG. 26 shows the layout which can beapplied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of FIG. 25, forillustrating the twenty-third embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 26, an active area AA4 includes first and second portions.The first portion crosses gate electrodes BS0, WL0 to WL3 and RST. Thesecond portion extends from the first portion in the direction of thegate electrodes BS0, WL0 to WL3 and RST and then extends in the samedirection as the first portion to cross the gate electrodes WL0 to WL3.Both ends of the first portion correspond to source/drain regions SD1and SD9.

Parts of the second portion next to the both sides of the gate electrodeWL0 correspond to source/drain regions SD2 and SD3. Parts of the secondportion next to the both sides of the gate electrode WL1 correspond tosource/drain regions SD4 and SD5. Parts of the second portion next tothe both sides of the gate electrode WL2 correspond to source/drainregions SD5 and SD6. Parts of the second portion next to the both sidesof the gate electrode WL3 correspond to source/drain regions SD7 andSD8.

According to the twenty-third embodiment, the source/drain regions SD2,SD5, SD8 are electrically connected to one another via the first portionof the active area AA4. Therefore, the same effect as the twenty-secondembodiment can be attained.

Twenty-Fourth Embodiment

A twenty-fourth embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment(FIG. 1). FIG. 27 shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductorintegrated circuit device according to the twenty-fourth embodiment ofthe present invention. As shown in FIG. 27, one end of a resettransistor QR (one end which is opposite to the end portion thereofconnected to the local bit line LBL) is connected to a first powersupply VPR1. At the standby time, the potential of the first powersupply is set equal to the potential of the plate line PL and the samestate as that in the first embodiment can be attained. The otherconfiguration and operation are the same as those of the firstembodiment.

According to the twenty-fourth embodiment, the same effect as the firstembodiment can be attained.

Twenty-Fifth Embodiment

A twenty-fifth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe twenty-fourth embodiment (FIG. 27). More specifically, like thesecond embodiment, the twenty-fifth embodiment relates to a case whereinthe potential of the plate line PL at the standby time is set atpotential Vss and the potential thereof at the driving time is set atinternal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 28 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 27, for illustrating the twenty-fifth embodiment of thepresent invention. At the standby time, a first power supply VPR1 is setat potential Vss. In this state, the same operation as the secondembodiment is performed.

According to the twenty-fifth embodiment, the same effect as the secondembodiment can be attained.

Twenty-Sixth Embodiment

A twenty-sixth embodiment relates to the configuration attained bycombining the configurations of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 7) andtwenty-fourth embodiment (FIG. 27). FIG. 29 shows the circuitconfiguration of a semiconductor integrated circuit device according tothe twenty-sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.29, like the twenty-fourth embodiment, each one end of reset transistorsQR0, QR1 (one end which are opposite to an end thereof connected tolocal bit lines /LBL, LBL) is connected to a first power supply VPR1, inthe configuration of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 7). At the standby time,the potential of the first power supply VPR1 is set equal to thepotential of the plate line PL to attain the same state as the sixthembodiment. The other configuration and operation are the same as thoseof the sixth embodiment.

According to the twenty-sixth embodiment, the same effect as the sixthembodiment can be attained.

Twenty-Seventh Embodiment

A twenty-seventh embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of the twenty-sixth embodiment (FIG. 29). More specifically, likethe second embodiment, the twenty-seventh embodiment relates to a casewherein the potentials of the plate lines PL, /PL at the standby timeare set at potential Vss and the potentials thereof at the driving timeare set at internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 30 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 29, for illustrating the twenty-seventh embodiment of thepresent invention. At the standby time, the potential of a first powersupply VPR1 is set at Vss. In this state, the same operation as theoperation in the second and seventh embodiments is performed.

According to the twenty-seventh embodiment, the same effect as acombination of the effects of the second and twenty-sixth embodimentscan be attained.

Twenty-Eighth Embodiment

A twenty-eighth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of the twenty-sixth embodiment (FIG. 29). More specifically, likethe third embodiment, the twenty-eighth embodiment relates to a casewherein the potentials of the plate lines PL, /PL are fixed at Vaa/2.

FIG. 31 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 29, for illustrating the twenty-eighth embodiment of thepresent invention. At the standby time, the potential of a first powersupply VPR1 is set at Vaa/2. In this state, the same operation as theoperation in the third and eighth embodiments is performed.

According to the twenty-eighth embodiment, the same effect as acombination of the effects of the third and twenty-sixth embodiments canbe attained.

Twenty-Ninth Embodiment

A twenty-ninth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of the twenty-sixth embodiment (FIG. 29). More specifically, theplate lines PL, /PL are driven in the same manner as in the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 32 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 29, for illustrating the twenty-ninth embodiment of thepresent invention. At the standby time, the potential of a first powersupply VPR1 is set to Vref. In this state, the same operation as theoperation in the fourth and ninth embodiments is performed.

According to the twenty-ninth embodiment, the same effect as acombination of the effects of the fourth and twenty-sixth embodimentscan be attained.

Thirtieth Embodiment

A thirtieth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit deviceof the twenty-sixth embodiment (FIG. 29). More specifically, the platelines PL, /PL are driven in the same manner as in the fifth and tenthembodiments.

FIG. 33 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 29, for illustrating the thirtieth embodiment of thepresent invention. At the standby time, the potential of a first powersupply VPR1 is set to internal power supply potential Vaa. In thisstate, the same operation as the operation in the fifth and tenthembodiments is performed.

According to the thirtieth embodiment, the same effect as a combinationof the effects of the fifth and twenty-sixth embodiments can beattained.

Thirty-First Embodiment

In a thirty-first embodiment, a reset transistor is not provided. FIG.34 shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice according to the thirty-first embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 34, cell blocks CB0, CB2 of theconfiguration obtained by removing the reset transistor QR from thecircuit configuration of FIG. 1 are connected to a bit line BL. Each oneend of ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 and C8 to C12 are connected toa plate line PL. Next, the operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 asan example.

At the standby time, the same potential (potential Vss) is applied tothe plate line PL and bit line BL. In this state, cell transistors Q0 toQ3 and Q8 to Q11 and block selection transistors QS0, QS2 are set in theON state in the standby state. Therefore, the two ends of theferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 and C8 to C12 are set at the samepotential.

At the active time, the block selection transistor QS2 of thenon-selected cell block CB2 is turned OFF and the cell transistors Q0,Q2, Q3 other than the selected cell in the selected cell block CB0 areturned OFF. Then, the plate line PL is driven to permit information tobe read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 of the selected cell.After this, the amplification and rewriting operations for the potentialof the bit line BL are performed in the same manner as in the firstembodiment.

According to the thirty-first embodiment, the same effect as the firstembodiment can be attained.

Thirty-Second Embodiment

A thirty-second embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe thirty-first embodiment (FIG. 34). More specifically, like thesecond embodiment, the potential of the plate line PL at the standbytime is set at potential Vss and the potential thereof at the drivingtime is set at internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 35 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 34, for illustrating the thirty-second embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 35, at the standby time, the potentials of word linesWL0 to WL7 and block selection signals BS0, BS1 are set to the highlevel. At the active time, the potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2,WL3 of cell transistors of cells other than the selected cell in theselected cell block CB0 are set to a low level. Then, the blockselection signal BS1 of the non-selected cell block CB1 is set to thelow level. The block selection signal BS0 of the selected cell block CB0stays at the high level. In this state, the operation of the plate linePL is set to internal power supply potential Vaa so as to permit cellinformation to be read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 to thebit line BL. After this, the amplification and rewriting operations forthe potential of the bit line BL are performed in the same manner as inthe first embodiment. Then, the potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2,WL3 and block selection signal BS1 are set to the high level to set thestandby state.

According to the thirty-second embodiment, the same effect as thethirty-first embodiment can be attained.

Thirty-Third Embodiment

A thirty-third embodiment relates to the configuration having anamplifying section which amplifies the potentials of bit lines BL, /BLin addition to the configuration of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 7). FIG.36 shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice according to the thirty-third embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 36, amplification transistors QA0, QA1 areprovided in a cell block CB0 (CB1). One end of the amplificationtransistor QA0 is connected to the bit line BL, the other end thereof isconnected to a second power supply VPR2 and the gate thereof isconnected to a local bit line /LBL. One end of the amplificationtransistor QA1 is connected to the bit line /BL, the other end thereofis connected to the second power supply VPR2 and the gate thereof isconnected to a local bit line LBL. It is possible to connect the otherend of the amplification transistor QA1 to a third power supply and setthe third power supply to the same potential as the second power supply.

Next, the operation is explained. The state at the standby time is thesame as that in the sixth embodiment. At the active time, resettransistors QR0, QR1 and cell transistors Q0, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q6, Q7 areturned OFF. In this state, if information is read out from a cell in thecell block CB0, only the plate line /PL is driven and the plate line PLis not driven. As a result, cell information is read out to the localbit line /LBL.

The potential read out to the local bit line /LBL is supplied to thegate of the amplification transistor QA0 and amplified by theamplification transistor QA0. As a result, a signal obtained byamplifying inverted data of the potential read out to the local bit line/LBL appears on the bit line BL. A difference between the potential ofthe bit line BL and reference potential of the bit line /BL is amplifiedby a sense amplifier SA.

After amplification by the sense amplifier SA, a block selectiontransistor QS0 of the selected cell block is turned ON. As a result, thepotential of the bit line /BL is transferred to the local bit line /LBLvia the block selection transistor QS0. Therefore, information ofpositive logic of the bit line /BL is rewritten into a ferroelectriccapacitor of the selected cell. That is, like the first embodiment, whenthe readout information is “0” data, data is rewritten into theferroelectric capacitor C1 with the potential of the plate line /PL keptat the high level. When the readout information is “1” data, data isrewritten after the potential of the plate line /PL is set to a lowlevel.

When information is read out from the cell in the cell block CB1,readout potential is input to the gate of the amplification transistorQA1 and amplified by the amplification transistor QA1. As a result, asignal obtained by amplifying inverted data of the readout potentialappears on the bit line /BL. The potentials of the bit lines BL and /BLare further amplified by a sense amplifier SA.

After amplification by the sense amplifier SA, a block selectiontransistor QS1 of the selected cell block is turned ON. As a result, thepotential of the local bit line LBL is set equal to that of the bit lineBL. Therefore, information of positive logic of the bit line BL isrewritten into a ferroelectric capacitor of the selected cell.

According to the thirty-third embodiment, the same effect as the sixthembodiment can be attained. Further, according to the thirty-thirdembodiment, the amplification transistors QA0, QA1 which amplify thereadout potentials of the local bit lines LBL, /LBL are provided.Therefore, a readout signal can be acquired even when the ferroelectriccapacitor is small.

Thirty-Fourth Embodiment

A thirty-fourth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of the thirty-third embodiment (FIG. 36). More specifically, likethe second embodiment, the thirty-fourth embodiment relates to a casewherein the potentials of the plate lines /PL, PL at the standby timeare set at potential Vss and the potentials thereof at the driving timeare set at internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 37 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 36, for illustrating the thirty-fourth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 37, at the standby time, a reset signal RST andpotentials of word lines WL0 to WL3 are set at the high level (potentialVaa), block selection signals BS, /BS are set at a low level andpotentials of the plate lines PL, /PL are set at potential Vss.Therefore, the potential of a local bit line /LBL is set to the lowlevel and the two ends of each of the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3are set at the same potential. This applies to a local bit line LBL.

At the active time, the reset signal RST and the potentials of the wordlines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells are set to the low level whilethe word line WL1 is set at potential Vpp. In this state, the plate linePL is driven and set to internal power supply potential Vaa so thatinformation will be read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C1 to thelocal bit line /LBL. The readout potential is amplified by theamplification transistor QA0 and, as a result, a signal obtained byamplifying inverted data of the potential read out to the local bit line/LBL appears on the bit line BL. The potentials of the bit lines BL, /BLare further amplified by the sense amplifier SA.

After amplification, the block selection signal /BS is set to the highlevel. As a result, the potential of the bit line /BL is transferred tothe local bit line /LBL and rewritten into the ferroelectric capacitorC1. After this, the reset signal RST and the potentials of the wordlines WL0, WL2, WL3 are set to the high level and the block selectionsignal /BS is set to the low level to set the standby state.

According to the thirty-fourth embodiment, the same effect as acombination of the effects of the second and thirty-third embodimentscan be attained.

Thirty-Fifth Embodiment

A thirty-fifth embodiment relates to the configuration obtained bycombining the configurations of the thirty-third embodiment (FIG. 36)and the twenty-fourth embodiment (FIG. 27). FIG. 38 shows the circuitconfiguration of a semiconductor integrated circuit device according tothe thirty-fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.38, with the configuration of the thirty-third embodiment (FIG. 36),like the twenty-fourth embodiment, each one end of reset transistorsQR0, QR1 is connected to a first power supply VPR1. At the standby time,the potential of the first power supply VPR1 is set equal to thepotential of a plate line PL. As a result, the same state as thethirty-fourth embodiment can be attained. The other configuration andoperation are the same as those of the thirty-fourth embodiment.

In the thirty-fifth embodiment, the same effect as the thirty-fourthembodiment can be attained.

Thirty-Sixth Embodiment

A thirty-sixth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate lines PL, /PL of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of the thirty-fifth embodiment (FIG. 38). More specifically, likethe second embodiment, the potentials of the plate lines PL, /PL at thestandby time are set at potential Vss and the potentials thereof at thedriving time are set at internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 39 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 38, for illustrating the thirty-sixth embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 39, at the standby time, thepotential of a first power supply VPR1 is set at the potential Vss. Inthis state, the same operation as the thirty-fourth embodiment isperformed.

According to the thirty-sixth embodiment, the same effect as acombination of the effects of the second and thirty-fifth embodimentscan be attained.

Thirty-Seventh Embodiment

A thirty-seventh embodiment relates to an application of thesemiconductor integrated circuit devices according to the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and semiconductor integrated circuit devicesaccording to forty-first to sixty-second embodiments which will bedescribed later. FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a data bus portionof a modem for a digital subscriber line according to the thirty-seventhembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 40, the modemincludes a programmable digital processor (DSP: Digital SignalProcessor) 100, analog-digital (A/D) converter 110, digital-analog (D/A)converter 120, transmission driver 130 and receiver amplifier 140.

In FIG. 40, a band-pass filter is omitted. Instead of the band-passfilter, various types of optional memories which hold a line codeprogram, which is a program used to select and operate the modemaccording to coded subscriber line information, transmission condition(line code: QAM, CAP, RSK, FM, AM, PAM, DWMT or the like) executed bythe DSP, are provided. As the memory, a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice (FeRAM) 170 which is one of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevices according to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-second embodiments is shown.

In the present embodiment, the semiconductor integrated circuit device170 used as the memory which holds the line code program is provided.However, it is also possible to connect the conventional MROM, SRAM,flash memory in addition to the memory of the semiconductor integratedcircuit device 170.

Thirty-Eighth Embodiment

A thirty-eighth embodiment relates to an application of thesemiconductor integrated circuit devices according to the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-second embodiments.FIG. 41 shows a portable telephone terminal 300 according to thethirty-eighth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 41,a communication section 200 which performs a communication functionincludes a transmission/reception antenna 201, antenna multiplexer 202,receiver 203, base band processor 204, DSP 205 used as a voice codec,speaker (receiver) 206, microphone (transmitter) 207, transmitter 208and frequency synthesizer 209.

Further, the portable telephone terminal 300 includes a control section220 which controls various sections of the portable telephone terminal.The control section 220 is a microcomputer configured by connecting aCPU (Central Processing Unit) 221, ROM 222, a semiconductor integratedcircuit device (FeRAM) 223 according to one of the first to thirty-sixthembodiments and forty-first to sixty-second embodiments and flash memory224 to one another via a CPU bus 225. In the ROM 222, a program executedby the CPU 221 and necessary data associated with fonts for display arestored in advance.

The FeRAM 223 is mainly used as a working area and used to store datawhich is held immediately before turn-OFF of the power supply. Forexample, it is used to store data obtained in the course of calculationwhile the program is being executed by the CPU 221 as required ortemporarily store data transferred between the control section 220 andthe respective sections during the turn-OFF time of the power supply.Further, the flash memory 224 is used for data storage such as programloading at the turn-ON time of the power supply since the writeoperation speed thereof is low. The capacity thereof is large and it isused to store a large capacity of data.

Further, the portable telephone terminal 300 includes a voice datareproduction processor 211, external output terminal 212, LCD (LiquidCrystal Display) controller 213, display LCD 214 and a ringer 215 whichgenerates a ring. The voice data reproduction processor 211 reproducesvoice data input to the portable telephone terminal 300 (or voice datastored in a external memory 240 which will be described later). Thereproduced voice data is transmitted to a headphone, portable speaker orthe like via the external output terminal 212 and output to theexterior. The LCD controller 213 receives display information from theCPU 221, for example, via the CPU bus 225 and converts the receivedinformation into LCD control information used to control the LCD 214.The LCD 214 is driven based on the control information to displayinformation.

Further, the portable telephone terminal 300 includes interface circuits(I/F) 231, 233, 235, external memory 240, external memory slot 232, keyoperating section 234 and external input/output terminal 236. Theexternal memory 240 such as a memory card is inserted into the externalmemory slot 232. The external memory slot 232 is connected to the CPUbus 225 via the interface circuit 231. Thus, by providing the slot 232in the portable telephone terminal 300, it is possible to writeinformation of the internal portion of the portable telephone terminal300 into the external memory 240 or input information (for example,voice data) stored in the external memory 240 to the portable telephoneterminal 300. The key operating section 234 is connected to the CPU bus225 via the interface circuit 233. Key input information input from thekey operating section 234 is transmitted to the CPU 221, for example.The external input/output terminal 236 is connected to the CPU bus 225via the interface circuit 233 and functions as a terminal which permitsvarious information items to be input from the exterior to the portabletelephone terminal 300 or permits information to be output from theportable telephone terminal 300 to the exterior.

In this embodiment, the ROM 222, FeRAM 223 and flash memory 224 areused, but both or one of the flash memory 224 and ROM 222 can bereplaced by an FeRAM.

Thirty-Ninth Embodiment

A thirty-ninth embodiment relates to an application example of thesemiconductor integrated circuit devices according to the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-second embodiments.Further, it relates to an application of the semiconductor integratedcircuit devices according to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-second embodiments to a memory card which receivesmedia contents such as smart media.

FIG. 42 shows a memory card according to the thirty-ninth embodiment ofthe present invention. As shown in FIG. 42, an FeRAM chip 401 iscontained in a memory card 400. The FeRAM chip 401 contains at least oneor some of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices according to thefirst to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-secondembodiments.

Fortieth Embodiment

A fortieth embodiment relates to an application example of thesemiconductor integrated circuit devices according to the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-second embodiments.Further, it relates to an application of the semiconductor integratedcircuit devices according to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-second embodiments to a system LSI. A so-calledsystem LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) is known in which a memory,logic circuit and the like are integrated in one system chip to form onesystem. As shown in FIG. 43 as an example, a plurality of functionblocks 501 (core, macro, IP (Intellectual property)) such as a RAMcircuit RAM and logic circuit LOGIC are provided on a semiconductor chip(semiconductor substrate) 502. The macros 501 are combined to configurea desired system as a whole. For example, the RAM circuit RAM includesan SRAM, DRAM or the like.

Forty-First Embodiment

A forty-first embodiment relates to a folded bit line configuration inwhich one plate line PL is commonly used. FIG. 53 shows the circuitconfiguration of a semiconductor integrated circuit device according tothe forty-first embodiment (FIG. 53). As shown in FIG. 53, the circuitconfiguration of the forty-first embodiment is similar to that of thesixth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 except the following respects. That is,in FIG. 7, the plate lines /PL, PL are respectively provided for the twobit lines /BL, BL. On the other hand, in FIG. 53, one plate line PL isconnected to local bit lines /LBL, LBL via reset transistors QR0, QR1.The gates of the reset transistors QR0, QR1 are supplied with resetsignals /RST, RST.

The operation is the same as the sixth embodiment. That is, at thestandby time, the reset transistors QR0, QR1 are set in the ON state. Ina case where information is read out from a memory cell in a cell blockCB0 at the active time, the reset transistor QR0 is turned OFF and acell transistor of a non-selected cell is turned OFF. Then, a blockselection transistor QS0 is turned ON and the plate line PL is driven.At this time, the reset transistor QR1 stays ON and a block selectiontransistor QS1 stays OFF. In a case where information is read out from amemory cell in a cell block CB1, the same operation is performed exceptthat the block selection transistor QS1 is turned ON and the blockselection transistor QS0 stays OFF.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-first embodiment, the same effect as the sixth embodiment can beattained. Further, according to the forty-first embodiment, the plateline PL is commonly used by the two cell blocks CB0, CB1. Therefore, thelimitation on the pitch between the plate lines can be alleviated incomparison with a case wherein two plate lines PL are provided for thetwo cell blocks. Further, since the number of plate lines can be furtherreduced in comparison with a case of the sixth embodiment in the foldedbit line configuration, the area of a plate line driving circuit PLD canbe further reduced and the driving ability can be enhanced.

Forty-Second Embodiment

A forty-second embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe forty-first embodiment. More specifically, like the secondembodiment, the potential of the plate line PL at the standby time isset to potential Vss and the potential thereof at the drive time is setto internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 54 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 53, for illustrating the forty-second embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation is explained below by taking a casewherein information is read out from a ferroelectric capacitor C1 as anexample.

As shown in FIG. 54, at the standby time, reset signals RST, /RST andpotentials of word lines WL0 to WL3 are set at the high level and blockselection signals BS, /BS are set at a low level. The plate line PL isset at potential Vss.

At the active time, the reset signal /RST is set to the low level andthe potentials of the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 of non-selected cells areset to the low level. The potential of the word line WL1 of a selectedcell stays at the high level. Then, the block selection signal /BS isset to the high level to turn ON the block selection transistor QS0.During this time, the reset signal RST stays at the high level and theblock selection signal BS stays at the low level.

In this state, the plate line PL is driven and set to internal powersupply potential Vaa so as to permit information to be read out from theferroelectric capacitor C1 to the bit line /BL. The potential of the bitline /BL is amplified by a sense amplifier by using the potential of thebit line BL as reference potential. The same operation is performed wheninformation is read out from a memory cell in the cell block CB1.

The reset signal RST stays at the high level and the block selectionsignal BS stays at the low level while information is being read outfrom the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 in the cell block CB0.Therefore, even if the plate line PL is driven, the local bit line LBLand plate line PL are short-circuited to each other and the cell blockCB1 is electrically isolated from the bit line BL. As a result, novoltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7 in the cellblock CB1.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-second embodiment, the same effect as a combination of the effectsof the second and forty-first embodiments can be attained.

The forty-second embodiment relates to a combination of the circuitconfiguration of the forty-first embodiment and the plate line drivingmethod which is the same as the second embodiment. It is also possibleto apply the plate line driving method according to the eighth to tenthembodiments to the forty-first embodiment. In this case, the effectobtained by combining the effect of the forty-first embodiment and theeffects of the eighth to tenth embodiments can be attained.

Forty-Third Embodiment

A forty-third embodiment relates to the configuration in which theconnection relation between the ferroelectric capacitors and the celltransistors is reversed in the memory cells of the first embodiment(FIG. 1).

FIG. 55 shows the circuit configuration of a semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to the forty-third embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 55, the circuit configuration of theforty-third embodiment is the same as FIG. 1 except that the connectionrelation between the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 and celltransistors Q0 to Q3 is reversed. That is, in the memory cells, each oneend of the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 is respectively connected to theferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 and the other ends thereof areconnected to a plate line PL. Further, the other ends of theferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 are connected to a local bit line LBL.The operation is completely the same as the first embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-third embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can beattained. The configuration of the memory cell of the forty-thirdembodiment can be applied to each of the memory cells with the circuitconfigurations of the sixth, eleventh, twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth,thirty-first, thirty-third and thirty-eighth embodiments.

Forty-Fourth Embodiment

A forty-fourth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe forty-third embodiment (FIG. 55). More specifically, like the secondembodiment, the potential of the plate line PL at the standby time isset to potential Vss and the potential thereof at the drive time is setto internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 56 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 55 which shows the forty-fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 56, the potentials of respective signallines fluctuate in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

According to the forty-fourth embodiment, the same effect as acombination of the effects of the second and forty-third embodiments canbe attained.

Further, the forty-fourth embodiment relates to a combination of thecircuit configuration of the forty-fourth embodiment and the plate linedriving method which is the same as the second embodiment. It is alsopossible to apply the plate line driving method according to the secondto fourth embodiments to the forty-third embodiment. In this case, thesame effect as a combination of the effect of the second to fourthembodiments and the effect of the forty-third embodiment (including thesixth, eleventh, twenty-fourth, twenty-sixth, thirty-first, thirty-thirdand thirty-eighth embodiments) can be attained.

Forty-Fifth Embodiment

A forty-fifth embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality ofcell blocks having the same configuration as that of the firstembodiment (FIG. 1) are connected in series. That is, firstly, theseries-connected ferroelectric capacitor and cell transistor constituteone memory cell, and the memory cells are connected in parallel, in thesame manner as in the first embodiment. Secondly, these memory cells areconnected in parallel with the reset transistor to constitute one memorycell unit. Thirdly, the memory cell units are connected in series, andthe end of the end memory cell unit is connected to a memory cell groupselection transistor to constitute one memory cell group (cell group).

FIG. 57 shows the circuit configuration of the semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to the forty-fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 57, a cell unit CU0 has a configurationsimilar to that of the cell block CB0 of the first embodiment. That is,a plurality of memory cells each constituted of series-connected celltransistors Q0 to Q3 and ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3, and resettransistor QR0 are connected in parallel. One end of each memory cell,that is, each end of the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 opposite to theconnection node to the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 is connected toa local bit line LBL0. The other end of each memory cell, that is, theend of the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3 opposite to the connectionnode to the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 is connected to a local bit lineLBL1.

A cell unit CU1 is disposed between the local bit line LBL1 and a localbit line LBL2. The cell unit CU1 has a configuration in which aplurality of memory cells and reset transistor QR1 are connected inparallel in the same manner as in the cell unit CU0. The memory cell isconstituted of series-connected cell transistors Q4 to Q7 andferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7. The memory cell of the cell unit CU1is reverse to that of the cell unit CU0 in the connections of the celltransistors Q4 to Q7 and the ferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7.Therefore, the ends of the ferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7 opposite tothe connection nodes to the cell transistors Q4 to Q7 are connected tothe local bit line LBL1. The ends of the cell transistors Q4 to Q7opposite to the connection nodes to the ferroelectric capacitors C4 toC7 are connected to a local bit line LBL2.

A cell unit CU2 is disposed between the local bit line LBL2 and a localbit line LBL3. The cell unit CU2 has a configuration similar to that ofthe cell unit CU0. That is, cell transistors Q8 to Q11 correspond to thecell transistors Q0 to Q3, ferroelectric capacitors C8 to C11 correspondto the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3, and a reset transistor QR2corresponds to the reset transistor QR0.

A cell unit CU3 is disposed between the local bit line LBL3 and a plateline PL. The cell unit CU3 has a configuration similar to that of thecell unit CU1. That is, cell transistors Q12 to Q15 correspond to thecell transistors Q4 to Q7, ferroelectric capacitors C12 to C15correspond to the ferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7, and a resettransistor QR3 corresponds to the reset transistor QR0.

The gates of the cell transistors Q0, Q4, Q8, Q12 are connected to aword line WL0. The gates of the cell transistors Q1, Q5, Q9, Q13 areconnected to a word line WL1. The gates of the cell transistors Q2, Q6,Q10, Q14 are connected to a word line WL2. The gates of the celltransistors Q3, Q7, Q11, Q15 are connected to a word line WL3. The resettransistors QR0 to QR3 are respectively controlled by reset signals RST0to RST3. Reset signal lines RST0 to RST3 are connected to a reset signalline decoder RSD.

The cell units CU0 to CU3 constitute a cell group. The cell group isconnected to a bit line BL via a cell group selection transistor QS.That is, one end of the cell group selection transistor QS is connectedto the local bit line LBL0, the other end is connected to the bit lineBL, and a cell group selection signal BS is supplied to the gate.

Next, the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofFIG. 57 will be described in accordance with an example in whichinformation is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C6 withreference to FIGS. 58, 59. FIG. 58 shows the state of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 57 at the standby time, and FIG. 59illustrates the state at the active time.

As shown in FIG. 58, all the cell transistors Q0 to Q15 in the cellgroup are on at the standby time. Therefore, the potentials of theopposite ends of all the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C15 are equal tothe potential of the plate line PL, and any voltage is not applied tothe ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C15. The cell group selectiontransistor QS is off.

As shown in FIG. 59, at the active time, the reset transistor QR1 in thecell unit to which the ferroelectric capacitor C6 belongs is turned off,and the cell transistors Q0, Q1, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q11, Q12, Q13,Q15 other than the cell transistors Q2, Q6, Q10, Q14 in the same columnas that of the selected cell are turned off. Next, the cell groupselection transistor QS is turned on, and the plate line PL is driven.

In the active state, since the reset transistors QR0, QR2, QR3 are keptON, the potentials are equal between the local bit lines LBL0 and LBL1,between the local bit lines LBL2 and LBL3, and between the local bitline LBL3 and the plate line PL. Therefore, the information of thememory cells in the cell units CU0, CU2, CU3 is protected without beingread out.

Moreover, since the reset transistor QR1 is off, the voltage is appliedto four memory cells in the cell unit CU1. However, since only the celltransistor Q6 of the selected cell in the cell unit CU1 is on, both thepotentials of the plate line PL and bit line BL are applied only to theferroelectric capacitor C6. That is, the potential of the plate line PLis applied to one end of the ferroelectric capacitor C6 via the celltransistor Q6. The potential of the bit line BL is applied to the otherend of the ferroelectric capacitor C6 via the cell group selectiontransistor QS. As a result, the cell information from the ferroelectriccapacitor C6 is read out to the bit line BL via the local bit line LBL0.This readout signal is amplified by a sense amplifier (not shown).

After the readout of the cell information, the data is rewritten intothe ferroelectric capacitor C6 with the potential of the plate line PLkept at the high level when the readout information is “0” data. Whenthe information is “1” data, the data is rewritten after the potentialof the plate line PL is set to the low level. At this time, the celltransistors Q0, Q1, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q15 are off,the reset transistors QR0, QR2, QR3 are on, and therefore the voltage isnot applied to the ferroelectric capacitors other than the ferroelectriccapacitor C6 of the selected cell.

After this, the cell group selection transistor QS is turned off and thereset transistor QR1 and cell transistors Q0, Q1, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7, Q8,Q9, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q15 are turned on to set the standby state.

In the active state, the ferroelectric capacitors other than those ofthe non-selected cell are set into the electrically floating state.Therefore, when the potential of one end of the ferroelectric capacitorfluctuates, the voltage is slightly applied to the ferroelectriccapacitor by the ratio of the parasitic capacitance between theferroelectric capacitor and the cell transistor. However, capacitance ofthe ferroelectric capacitor is large, the problem of destruction of thecell information or the like does not occur.

Moreover, the connection node of the ferroelectric capacitor to the celltransistor is set in the floating state in each non-selected cell.Therefore, at the active time, the potential of the connection node ofthe non-selected cell is lowered by a junction leak, and the disturbvoltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor of the non-selectedcell. However, when returning to the standby state, the potentialdifference between the opposite ends of each ferroelectric capacitor isreset to 0V, and the problem by the disturb voltage is substantiallynegligible.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-fifth embodiment, the memory cells are not one-dimensionallyarranged as in the other embodiments, and the memory cells aretwo-dimensionally arranged and connected. In this configuration, thereadout and write are possible with respect to any memory cell, andfurther the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained.That is, the significant reduction of the delay of the signal on theplate line PL, the reduction of the area of the plate line drivingcircuit PLD, and the enhancement of the driving ability can be realized.

Moreover, according to the forty-fifth embodiment, since each cell groupCG is connected to the bit line BL, the number of required bit linesdecreases. As a result, the pitch of the bit line is largely eased.Since the pitch of the bit line is eased (the decrease of the number ofbit lines), the number of sense amplifiers decreases by the decrease ofthe bit lines. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the chip size.

Since a cell group CG unit is connected to the bit line BL, the numberof contacts of the bit line BL decrease remarkably, and the same effectas that of the first embodiment is obtained. The number of memory cellsconnected to one bit line is very small as compared with the firstembodiment in which each cell block is connected to the bit line BL, andtherefore an effect obtained by the decrease of the number of bit linecontacts is further great.

Moreover, according to the forty-fifth embodiment, in the same manner asin the first embodiment, the small memory cells of approximately minimum6F² size can be realized, and the data of the memory cells can beprevented from being destroyed by the disturb voltage.

Furthermore, according to the forty-fifth embodiment, the problem of thedelay by the serial connection of a plurality of memory cells can beeased more than the prior-application and conventional memories at theactive time, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment isobtained. This effect will be described in accordance with an example ofthe configuration of the cell group constituted of N×M memory cellsincluding N cells in a bit line direction and M cells in a word linedirection. In this case, at the active time, only M-1 reset transistors,one cell transistor, and one cell group selection transistor which areon are connected in series between the plate line PL and the bit lineBL. Therefore, different from the memory cells of the memory in theprior application, with the same number of cells of the cell group, thenumber of series-connected transistors can be reduced drastically ascompared with the memory in the prior application.

Fourth-Sixth Embodiment

A forty-sixth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-fifth embodiment (FIG. 57). More specifically, in the same manneras in the second embodiment, the present embodiment relates a case wherethe potential of the plate line PL at the standby time is set to thepotential Vss and the potential thereof at the drive time is set to theinternal power supply potential Vaa. For the operation, the presentembodiment is a combination of the forty-sixth and second embodiments.

FIG. 60 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 57, for illustrating the forty-sixth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation will now be described in accordancewith an example in which the information is read out from theferroelectric capacitor C6.

As shown in FIG. 60, at the standby time, reset signals RST0 to RST3 andword lines WL0 to WL3 are set at the high level and a cell groupselection signal BS is set at the low level. The plate line PL is set atthe potential Vss. Therefore, in all the memory cell units CU0 to CU3,all the cell transistors Q0 to Q15 and all the reset transistors QR0 toQR3 are on. On the other hand, the cell group selection transistor QS isoff. Therefore, the potential of the opposite ends of the ferroelectriccapacitor C0 to C15 of all the memory cells is set equal to that of theplate line PL. Thus, at the standby time, the voltage is not applied tothe ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C15 regardless of the potential ofthe plate line PL, and the polarization information is stably held.

At the active time, the word lines WL0, WL1, WL3 of the non-selectedcells are set to the low level, and the reset signal RST1 is set to thelow level. The word line WL2 of the selected cell, and the reset signalsRST0, RST2, RST3 maintain the high level. Next, when the cell groupselection signal BS is set to the high level, the cell group selectiontransistor QS is turned on.

In this state, the plate line PL is driven at the internal power supplypotential Vaa, and accordingly the cell information is read out to thebit line BL from the ferroelectric capacitor C6. The potential read outto the bit line BL is amplified by the sense amplifier SA, and therewriting is carried out in the same manner as in the second embodiment.Thereafter, the reset signals RST0, RST2, RST3 are set to the highlevel, the word lines WL0, WL1, WL3 are set to the high level, and thecell group selection signal BS is set to the low level to shift to thestandby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-sixth embodiment, the combined effect of the forty-fifth andsecond embodiments can be attained.

Forty-Seventh Embodiment

A forty-seventh embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe forty-fifth embodiment (FIG. 57). In further detail, the plate linePL is driven in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 61 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 57 in the forty-seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. The operation will now be described in accordance with anexample in which the information is read out from the ferroelectriccapacitor C6.

As shown in FIG. 61, the state at the standby time is similar to that ofthe forty-sixth embodiment except that the plate line PL is driven at apotential ref. At the active time, the word lines WL0, WL1, WL3 are setto the low level, the reset signal RST1 is set to the low level, and thecell group selection signal BS is set to the high level. When the plateline PL is driven at the internal power supply potential Vaa in thisstate, the information is read out from the ferroelectric capacitor C6.Subsequently, the potential on the bit line BL is amplified, next therewriting operation is performed in the same manner as in the fourthembodiment, and next the standby state is set in the same manner as inthe forty-sixth embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-seventh embodiment, the combined effect of the forty-fifth andfourth embodiments can be attained.

Forty-Eighth Embodiment

In a forty-eighth embodiment, different from the forty-fifth embodiment(FIG. 57), the reset signal line and word line extend in the samedirection.

FIG. 62 shows the circuit configuration of the semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to the forty-eighth embodiment of the presentinvention. The extending directions of the word lines WL0 to WL3 andsignal line (reset signal line) for supplying the reset signals RST0,RST1 are symbolic of a positional relation between the lines in anactual semiconductor integrated circuit device. That is, the word linesWL0 to WL3 and the reset signal line actually extend in the samedirection on the chip. On the other hand, in FIG. 57, the reset signalline extends in a direction different from that of the word lines WL0 toWL3, and in the same direction as that of the bit line BL and local bitlines LBL0 to LBL3.

As shown in FIG. 62, the forty-eighth embodiment is substantially thesame as the forty-fifth embodiment. That is, the cell units CU0, CU1 areconnected, and one end of the cell unit CU0 is connected to the bit lineBL via the cell group selection transistor QS. The reset signal linesRST0, RST1 extend in the same direction as that of the word lines WL0 toWL3. That is, even on the actual semiconductor integrated circuitdevice, the reset signals RST0, RST1 and word lines WL0 to WL3 aredisposed along the same direction. Therefore, the reset signal linedecoder (shown together with the row decoder in the drawing) is disposedon the end of a memory cell array in the direction of the word lines WL0to WL3. For the operation, the present embodiment is the same as theforty-fifth embodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-eighth embodiment of the present invention, the same effect asthat of the forty-fifth embodiment can be attained.

Forty-Ninth Embodiment

A forty-ninth embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-eighth embodiment (FIG. 62). In more detail, in the same manner asin the second embodiment, the present embodiment relates to the casewhere the potential of the plate line PL at the standby time is set tothe potential Vss, and the potential at the drive time is set to theinternal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 63 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 62, for illustrating the forty-ninth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation will now be described in accordancewith the case where the information is read out from the ferroelectriccapacitor C6.

As shown in FIG. 63, at the standby time, the reset signals RST0, RST1and word lines WL0 to WL3 are set to the high level, and the cell groupselection signal BS is set to the low level. The plate line PL is set tothe potential Vss.

At the active time, the word lines WL0, WL1, WL3 of the non-selectedcell are set to the low level, and the reset signal RST1 is set to thelow level. The word line WL2 of the selected cell, and the reset signalRST0 are kept at the high level. Subsequently, when the cell groupselection signal BS is set to the high level, the cell group selectiontransistor QS is turned on.

When the plate line PL is driven at the internal power supply potentialVaa in this state, the cell information is read out to the bit line BLfrom the ferroelectric capacitor C6. The sense amplifier SA amplifiesthe potential read out to the bit line BL, and next the rewriting isperformed in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Thereafter,the reset signal RST1 is set to the high level, the word lines WL0, WL1,WL3 are set to the high level, and the cell group selection signal BS isset to the low level to shift to the standby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-ninth embodiment, the combined effect of the forty-eighth andsecond embodiments can be attained.

Fiftieth Embodiment

A fiftieth embodiment relates to a folded bit line configuration of theforty-eighth embodiment. FIG. 64 shows the circuit configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device according to the fiftiethembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 64, cell groupsCG0, CG1 having the same configuration as that of the cell group havingthe cell units CU0, CU1 of FIG. 62 are disposed. The cell groups CG0,CG1 are respectively disposed for bit lines /BL, BL.

The cell unit CU0 having the same configuration of the cell unit CU0 ofFIG. 62 is connected between local bit lines /LBL0 and /LBL1. The cellunit CU1 having the same configuration of the cell unit CU1 of FIG. 62is connected between the local bit line /LBL1 and a plate line /PL(local bit line /LBL2). A group selection transistor QS0 is connectedbetween the local bit lines /LBL0 and a bit line /BL.

In the same manner as in the cell unit CU0, the cell unit CU2constituted of the ferroelectric capacitors C8 to C11, cell transistorsQ8 to Q11, and reset transistor QR2 is connected between the local bitlines LBL0 and LBL1. In the cell unit CU2, the ferroelectric capacitorsC8 to C11 correspond to the ferroelectric capacitors C0 to C3, the celltransistors Q8 to Q11 correspond to the cell transistors Q0 to Q3, andthe reset transistor QR2 corresponds to the reset transistor QR0.

In the same manner as in the cell unit CU1, the cell unit CU3constituted of the ferroelectric capacitors C12 to C15, cell transistorsQ12 to Q15, and reset transistor QR3 is connected between the local bitline LBL1 and the plate line PL (local bit line LBL2). In the cell unitCU3, the ferroelectric capacitors C12 to C15 correspond to theferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7, the cell transistors Q12 to Q15correspond to the cell transistors Q4 to Q7 and the reset transistor QR3corresponds to the reset transistor QR0. A group selection transistorQS1 is connected between the local bit line LBL0 and the bit line BL.

The gates of the cell transistors Q0, Q4, Q8, Q12 are connected to theword line WL0. The gates of the cell transistors Q1, Q5, Q9, Q13 areconnected to the word line WL1. The gates of the cell transistors Q2,Q6, Q10, Q14 are connected to the word line WL2. The gates of the celltransistors Q3, Q7, Q11, Q15 are connected to the word line WL3. Thereset transistors QR0, QR2 are controlled by the reset signal RST0. Thereset transistors QR1, QR3 are controlled by the reset signal RST1. Cellgroup selection transistors QS0, QS1 are respectively controlled by cellgroup selection signals /BS, BS.

Next, the operation will be described. The operation in the respectivecell groups CG0, CG1 is the same as that of the forty-seventh embodiment(forty-fifth embodiment). At the active time, in the same manner as inthe forty-seventh embodiment, the reset transistor QR1, and celltransistors Q0, Q1, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7 are turned off. Thereafter, for thereadout of the memory cells in the cell group CG0, only the cell groupselection transistor QS0 is turned on, and the cell group selectiontransistor QS1 stays OFF. Next, only the plate line /PL is driven, andthe plate line PL is not driven. As a result, the cell information isread out to the bit line /BL. The potential on the bit line BL is usedas a reference potential. The potential on the bit line /BL is amplifiedby the sense amplifier SA using the potential on the bit line BL. Thisflow applies to the readout of the memory cells in the cell group CG1.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the sixthembodiment, with the folded bit line configuration, the combined effectof the forty-fifth and sixth embodiments can be attained.

Fifty-First Embodiment

A fifty-first embodiment relates to one example of the driving method ofthe plate lines PL, /PL. In more detail, in the same manner as in thesecond embodiment, the present embodiment relates to the case where thepotentials of the plate lines PL, /PL at the standby time are set to thepotential Vss, and the potential at the drive time is set to theinternal power supply potential Vaa. Also for the operation, the presentembodiment is the same as the combination of the fiftieth and secondembodiments.

FIG. 65 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 64, for illustrating the fifty-first embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation will now be described in accordancewith the example in which the information is read out of theferroelectric capacitor C6.

As shown in FIG. 65, at the standby time, the reset signals RST0, RST1and the word lines WL0 to WL3 are set to the high level, and the cellgroup selection signals BS, /BS are set to the low level. The platelines PL, /PL are set to the potential Vss.

At the active time, the reset signal RST1 is set to the low level, andthe word lines WL0, WL1, WL3 of the non-selected cells are set to thelow level. The word line WL2 of the selected cell is maintained at thehigh level. Next, when the cell group selection signal /BS is set to thehigh level, the block selection transistor QS0 is turned on. The cellgroup selection signal BS is maintained at the low level.

When the plate line /PL is driven at the internal power supply potentialVaa in this state, the cell information is read out to the bit line /BLfrom the ferroelectric capacitor C6. The plate line PL is maintained atthe potential Vss. The potential read out to the bit line /BL isamplified by the sense amplifier SA, and next the rewrite operation isperformed in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Thereafter,the reset signal RST1 and the word lines WL0, WL1, WL3 are set to thehigh level, and the cell group selection signal /BS is set to the lowlevel to shift to the standby state.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-first embodiment, the combined effect of the fiftieth and secondembodiments can be attained.

Fifty-Second Embodiment

A fifty-second embodiment is similar to the forty-fifth embodiment, andis different in that two terminals are replaced with each other in somememory cells.

FIG. 66 shows the circuit configuration of the semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to the fifty-second embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 66, as compared with FIG. 57, the connectionof the memory cells of the cell units CU1, CU3 is the same as that ofthe cell unit CU0 (or CU2). That is, in the cell unit CU1, the ends ofthe cell transistors Q4 to Q7 opposite to the connection nodes to theferroelectric capacitors C4 to C7 are connected to the local bit lineLBL1. The ends of the ferro-electric capacitors C4 to C7 opposite to theconnection nodes to the cell transistors Q4 to Q7 are connected to thelocal bit line LBL2. Similarly, in the cell unit CU3, the ends of thecell transistors Q12 to Q15 opposite to the connection nodes to theferroelectric capacitors C12 to C15 are connected to the local bit lineLBL3. The ends of the ferroelectric capacitors C12 to C15 opposite tothe connection nodes to the cell transistors Q12 to Q15 are connected tothe plate line PL. The remaining parts are the same as the forty-fifthembodiment.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-second embodiment, the same effect as that of the forty-fifthembodiment can be attained.

An illustration is given in which the cell units CU1, CU3 are connectedin the same manner as in the cell unit CU0 (or CU2) of the forty-fifthembodiment (FIG. 57). However, it is also possible to invert these. Itis not essential to achieve the same connection with respect to twoterminals of the memory cell. Furthermore, as derived from the presentembodiment and the forty-fifth embodiment, it is possible to optionallyconnect two terminals of the memory cell in each memory cell. Forexample, the same connection may also be achieved for each column orrow, and the same effect can be attained even from the totally optionalconnection without imparting any regularity.

Fifty-Third Embodiment

A fifty-third embodiment relates to the configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the fiftieth embodiment (FIG.64). FIGS. 67, 68, 69 show the fifty-third embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGS. 67, 68 correspond to the cross sectional structures ofthe cell units CU0, CU1 which can be applied to the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIG. 64. FIG. 69 schematically shows theplane configuration of a part of FIG. 67 or 68.

The configuration of FIG. 67 is similar to that of FIG. 17, and adifferent part will be described. The bit line BL is connected to thesource/drain region SD0 via the contact P6 and interconnection layer M1.The source/drain region SD0 is formed with a distance from thesource/drain region SD1 in the surface of the semiconductor substratesub. A gate electrode BS1 is formed above the semiconductor substratesub between the source/drain regions SD0, SD1. The source/drain regionsSD0 is connected to SD1 via the contacts P5, P6, and interconnectionlayer M1. The transistor constituted of the source/drain regions SD1,SD2 and the gate electrode BS0 above the semiconductor substrate subbetween the regions corresponds to the cell group selection transistorQS0.

The local bit line /LBL1 is disposed in the position of the plate linePL of FIG. 17. The local bit line /LBL1 is connected to a source/drainregion SD10 via a contact P4 and the interconnection layer M1. Thesource/drain region SD10 is formed with a distance from a source/drainregion SD9 in the surface of the semiconductor substrate sub. Thetransistor constituted of the source/drain regions SD10, SD9 and thegate electrode RST0 above the semiconductor substrate sub between theregions corresponds to the reset transistor QR0. The gate electrode RST0is disposed above the semiconductor substrate sub between thesource/drain regions SD9, SD8. The source/drain region SD9 is connectedto SD8 via the contact P1 and local bit line /LBL0.

The configuration of FIG. 68 is similar to that of FIG. 67, and is thesame as FIG. 67 except the following different part. That is, the bitline BL does not exist in the cross sectional structure, and the plateline /PL is disposed in the position of the local bit line /LBL0 of FIG.67. The local bit line /LBL1 in FIG. 67 and the local bit line /LBL1 inFIG. 68 are connected to each other.

The configuration similar to that of FIG. 67 is disposed with respect tothe cell unit CU2 of FIG. 64. The configuration similar to that of FIG.68 is disposed with reference to the cell unit CU3 of FIG. 64. The localbit line /LBL0 (LBL0), and the plate line /PL (PL) of theseconfigurations are disposed as shown in FIG. 69. That is, the respectiveisland-shaped local bit line /LBL0, plate line PL, local bit line /LBL0,and plate line /PL are successively arranged. In actual, moreconfigurations are arranged (not shown). A line extending in the wordline direction (vertical direction of the drawing) connect the platelines PL. This also applies to the plate line /PL.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-third embodiment of the present invention, the cell units CU0 toCU3 of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the fiftiethembodiment can be realized.

Fifty-Fourth Embodiment

A fifty-fourth embodiment relates to the configuration of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the forty-first embodiment(FIG. 53). FIGS. 70, 71 schematically show the cross sectional structureof the cell block which can be applied to the semiconductor integratedcircuit device of FIG. 53, for illustrating the fifty-fourth embodimentof the present invention. FIGS. 70, 71 show the configurationscorresponding to the cell blocks CB0, CB1 of FIG. 53. FIG. 53illustrates four memory cells in one cell block, but FIGS. 70, 71illustrate eight cases. When the number of repetitions of theconfiguration forming the memory cells of FIGS. 70, 71 isincreased/decreased, the desired number of memory cells can be realized.

As shown in FIG. 70, source/drain regions (active regions) SD20 to SD36are formed with mutual distances in the surface of the semiconductorsubstrate sub. The gate electrodes (cell group selection signal line)BS, /BS are respectively disposed above the semiconductor substrate subbetween the source/drain regions SD20 and SD21 and between thesource/drain regions SD21 and SD22. Similarly, the gate electrodes (wordlines) WL0, WL1, WL2, WL3 are respectively disposed above thesemiconductor substrate sub between the source/drain regions SD22, SD23,between SD24, SD25, between SD25, SD26, and between SD27, SD28. The gateelectrodes WL4, WL5, WL6, WL7 are respectively disposed above thesemiconductor substrate sub between the source/drain regions SD28, SD29,between SD30, SD31, between SD31, SD32, and between SD33, SD34.

The gate electrodes (reset signal lines) RST, /RST are respectivelydisposed above the semiconductor substrate between the source/drainregions SD34, SD35 and between SD35, SD36.

An impurity region in which impurities are injected is formed in achannel region between the source/drain regions SD20 and SD21, and thetransistor constituted of the source/drain regions SD20, SD21 and gateelectrode BS is formed as a depression type. Similarly, the transistorconstituted of the source/drain regions SD34, SD35 and gate electrodeRST is also of the depression type.

The source/drain regions SD23, SD24 are connected to the lowerelectrodes BE of the ferroelectric capacitors C disposed above thesesource/drain regions SD23, SD24 via contacts P21. The upper electrode TEof each ferroelectric capacitor C is connected to the plate line PLdisposed above the ferroelectric capacitor C via a contact P22 disposedwith respect to each upper electrode. Similarly, the source/drainregions SD26, SD27, SD29, SD30, SD32, SD33 are connected to the lowerelectrodes BE of the ferro-electric capacitors C via contacts P21. Theplate lines PL are disposed in the positions above the source/drainregions SD26, SD27, above the source/drain regions SD29, SD30, above thesource/drain regions SD32, SD33. The plate line PL is connected to theupper electrode TE of the corresponding ferroelectric capacitor C viathe contact P22.

The local bit line /LBL is disposed above the plate line PL. Thesource/drain regions SD22, SD25, SD28, SD31, SD34 are connected tocontacts P23. Each contact P23 is connected to the local bit line /LBLvia an interconnection layer M21 and contact P24. The interconnectionlayer M21 is disposed as the same layer as that of the plate line PL.The plate line PL is also disposed over a position above thesource/drain regions SD35, SD36, and is connected to the source/drainregion SD36 via a contact P25.

The bit line /BL is disposed above the local bit line /LBL. Thesource/drain region SD20 is connected to the bit line /BL via a contactP26, interconnection layer M21, contact P27, interconnection layer M22,and contact P28. The interconnection layer M22 is disposed as the samelayer as that of the local bit line /LBL.

FIG. 71 is substantially the same as FIG. 70 except the following. Thetransistor constituted of the source/drain regions SD20, SD21, and gateelectrode BS, and the transistor constituted of the source/drain regionsSD34, SD35 and gate electrode RST are formed as an enhancement type. Onthe other hand, the transistor constituted of the source/drain regionsSD21, SD22 and gate electrode /BS, and the transistor constituted of thesource/drain regions SD35, SD36 and gate electrode /RST are formed inthe depression type. The local bit line LBL is positioned instead of thelocal bit line /LBL, and the bit line BL is positioned instead of thebit line /BL.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-fourth embodiment of the present invention, the cell group of thesemiconductor integrated circuit device of the forty-first embodimentcan be realized.

Moreover, according to the fifty-fourth embodiment, no wiring layer isdisposed between the semiconductor substrate sub and the layer of thelower electrode BE. That is, in a manufacturing process, metal wiringsof copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) and the like are not formed before formingthe ferroelectric capacitor. If the metal wiring layers, for example, ofCu, Al and the like are formed before forming the ferroelectriccapacitor in the manufacturing process, these metal wiring layers cannotbear a thermal process in forming the ferroelectric capacitor.Therefore, when the wiring layer is formed before forming theferroelectric capacitor, for example, tungsten (W) or the like needs tobe used. However, for an embedded memory of FeRAM and logic circuit andthe like, since this tungsten wiring is disposed to form FeRAM, thewiring is extra as seen from the whole, and this increases amanufacturing cost. On the other hand, according to the fifty-fourthembodiment, it is not necessary to dispose this extra wiring layer, andthe manufacturing cost can be inhibited from increasing.

Moreover, according to the fifty-fourth embodiment, different from theseventeenth embodiment (FIG. 18) or the nineteenth embodiment (FIG. 21),active regions AA1 to AA3 do not have to be bent. Therefore, the cellsize can further be reduced, and a size of 6F² can be truly realized.

Fifty-Fifth Embodiment

A fifty-fifth embodiment is used in addition to the fifty-fourthembodiment (FIGS. 70, 71), and a wiring for shunt, a main blockselection transistor wiring and the like are added.

FIGS. 72, 73 schematically show the cross sectional structure of thesemiconductor integrated circuit according to the fifty-fifth embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 72 corresponds to a position similar tothat of FIG. 70 of the fifty-fourth embodiment, and FIG. 73 correspondsto a position similar to that of FIG. 71 of the fifty-fourth embodiment.As shown in FIGS. 72, 73, a wiring for a main block selection transistorMBS and a power supply line Vs for strengthening the power supply aredisposed in the same layer of the local bit line LBL (/LBL). A pluralityof power supply lines can be arranged in the memory cell array by thispower supply line Vs, and a total of power supply resistance candrastically be reduced. These main block selection transistor wiring MBSand power supply line Vs are disposed using a vacant place where thelocal bit line /LBL (LBL) is not disposed.

The wirings for shunt /RST, RST, WL0 to WL7, /BS, BS are disposed abovethe bit line /BL (BL). The wirings for shunt /RST, RST, WL0 to WL7, /BS,BS are periodically connected to the corresponding gate electrodes(denoted with the same reference symbols) in the extending direction(not shown).

Needless to say, it is possible to optionally employ any of the wiringfor shunt, hierarchical word line system and power supply line.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-fifth embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as thatof the fifty-fourth embodiment can be attained. Furthermore, the vacantplace of a local bit line /LBL (LBL) level is used to disposed the mainblock selection transistor wiring MBS and power supply line Vs.Therefore, the main block selection transistor wiring MBS and powersupply line Vs can be disposed without increasing further metal wiringlevel.

Fifty-Sixth Embodiment

A fifty-sixth embodiment relates to a modification of the fifty-fifthembodiment (FIGS. 72, 73).

FIGS. 74, 75 schematically show the cross sectional structure of thesemiconductor integrated circuit according to the fifty-sixth embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 74 corresponds to a position similar tothat of FIG. 72 of the fifty-fifth embodiment, and FIG. 75 correspondsto a position similar to that of FIG. 73 of the fifty-fifth embodiment.As shown in FIGS. 74, 75, the main block selection transistor wiring MBSand power supply line Vs are disposed in the same layer as that of thewirings for shunt /RST, RST, WL0 to WL7, /BS, BS.

Needless to say, it is also possible to optionally employ any of thewiring for shunt, hierarchical word line system and power supply line.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-sixth embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as thatof the fifty-fifth embodiment can be attained. According to thefifty-sixth embodiment, one cell block or cell group is large, in whicha plurality of signal lines (e.g., the main block selection transistorwiring MBS, power supply line Vs and the like) can be arranged with ahigh degree of freedom. On the other hand, in the conventionalconfiguration, one cell forms a basic unit, one cell size is small, andtherefore one signal line at most is disposed. That is, there is a largerestriction to the arrangement of the signal line.

Fifty-Seventh Embodiment

In a fifty-seventh embodiment, in addition to the configuration of theforty-first embodiment (FIG. 53), the plate line PL is commonly used bycell blocks CB0, CB1, and further cell blocks connected to the bit linesBL, /BL.

FIG. 76 shows the circuit configuration of the semiconductor integratedcircuit according to the fifty-seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 76, the same configuration as that of FIG.53 is disposed in the right half of the drawing. Additionally, thereference symbol of each component of FIG. 53, to whose end “A” isattached, is used.

Moreover, cell blocks CB2, CB3 similar to the cell blocks CB0, CB1 ofFIG. 53 are further disposed with respect to the bit lines /BL, BL. Thememory cell constituted of a reset transistor QR0B, ferroelectriccapacitors C8 to C11 and cell transistors Q8 to Q11 is connected betweenthe plate line PL and local bit line /LBLB. The local bit line /LBLB isconnected to the bit line /BL via a block selection transistor QS0B.

A reset transistor and the memory cell constituted of ferroelectriccapacitors C12 to C15 and cell transistors Q12 to Q15 are connectedbetween the plate line PL and local bit line LBLB. The local bit lineLBLB is connected to the bit line BL via a block selection transistorQS1B.

The gates of the cell transistors Q8, Q12 are connected to a word lineWL0B. The gates of the cell transistors Q9, Q13 are connected to a wordline WL1B. The gates of the cell transistors Q10, Q14 are connected to aword line WL2B. The gates of the cell transistors Q11, Q15 are connectedto a word line WL3B. The reset transistors QR0B, QR1B are respectivelycontrolled by reset signals /RSTB, RSTB. The block selection transistorsQS0B, QS1B are respectively controlled by block selection signals /BSB,BSB.

For the operation, the present embodiment is similar to the forty-firstembodiment. That is, in the access to the memory cells in the cellblocks CB0, CB1, the cell blocks CB2, CB3 maintain the standby state,and the same control as that of the forty-first embodiment is carriedout with respect to the cell blocks CB0, CB1. During the access to thememory cells in the cell blocks CB0, CB1, the opposite ends of theferroelectric capacitors C8 to C15 in the cell blocks CB2, CB3 areshort-circuited, and the information is therefore inhibited from beingdestroyed. This also applies to the operation in the access to thememory cells in the cell blocks CB2, CB3.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-seventh embodiment of the present invention, the same effect asthat of the forty-first embodiment is obtained. Furthermore, the plateline PL is commonly used by the greater number of the cell blocks thanthe forty-first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the areaoccupied by the plate line PL and to reduce the resistance. Thereduction of the occupying areas of the plate line driving circuits PL,/PL can be also realized.

Fifty-Eighth Embodiment

A fifty-eighth embodiment relates to one example of the driving methodof the plate line PL of the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofthe fifty-seventh embodiment (FIG. 76). In more detail, in the samemanner as in the second embodiment, the present embodiment relates tothe case where the potential of the plate line PL at the standby time isset to the potential Vss, and the potential at the drive time is set tothe internal power supply potential Vaa.

FIG. 77 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 76, for illustrating the fifty-eighth embodiment of thepresent invention. The operation will now be described in accordancewith an example in which the information is read out from theferroelectric capacitor C1.

As shown in FIG. 77, at the standby time, reset signals /RSTA, RSTA,/RSTB, RSTB, word lines WL0A to WL3A, WL0B to WL3B are set to the highlevel, and block selection signals /BSA, BSA, /BSB, BSB are set to thelow level. The plate line PL is set to the potential Vss.

The operations of the reset signals /RSTA, RSTA, word lines WL0A to WL3Aand block selection signals /BSA, BSA are the same as those of theforty-second embodiment (FIG. 54) until the standby state through theactive state. During this, the reset signals /RSTB, RSTB and word linesWL0B to WL3B maintain the high level, and the block selection signals/BSB, BSB maintain the low level.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-eighth embodiment of the present invention, the combined effect ofthe fifty-seventh and second embodiments are obtained.

Fifty-Ninth Embodiment

In a fifty-ninth embodiment, one bit is stored by two transistors andtwo ferroelectric capacitors. That is, the present embodiment relates toa case where the memory cell is of a so-called 2T2C type. In the 2T2Ctype, the information is stored in accordance with a state in which the“0” and “1” data are respectively written in two memory cells and astate in which the “1” and “0” data are respectively written. Even withthe 2T2C type, the configuration of the circuit is not changed from theabove-described embodiment, and is different only in the control at thetime of the read or write. An example in which the 2T2C type memory cellis used in the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-first embodiment (FIG. 53) and the information is read out of theferroelectric capacitors C1, C5 will now be described. Complementarydata is already written in the ferroelectric capacitors C1, C5.

FIG. 78 shows the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of FIG. 53, which is assumed to be the 2T2C type memory cell, forillustrating the semiconductor integrated circuit device according tothe fifty-ninth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.78, the state at the standby time is the same as that of theforty-second embodiment (FIG. 54).

At the active time, the reset signals /RST, RST are both set to the lowlevel, and the word lines WL0, WL2, WL3 of the non-selected cell are setto the low level. Subsequently, the block selection signal /BS, BS areset to the high level. When the plate line PL is driven at the internalpower supply potential Vaa in this state, the information from theferroelectric capacitors C1, C5 are read out to the bit lines /BL, BL.The potentials on the bit lines /BL, BL are amplified by the senseamplifier SA, and the information held by the memory cell is judged fromtwo amplified data. Thereafter, the rewrite is performed, and thestandby state is set.

Note that the 2T2C system has been described in accordance with theexample of the semiconductor integrated circuit device of theforty-first embodiment, but can also be applied to the sixth (FIG. 7),eleventh (FIG. 12), twenty-sixth (FIG. 29), thirty-third (FIG. 36),thirty-fifth (FIG. 38) and fiftieth (FIG. 64) embodiments including abit line pair in the similar method. In this case, in addition to thecontrol described in the present embodiment, the plate lines /PL, PL areboth driven, and accordingly the data is read out to the bit lines /BL,BL from two ferroelectric capacitors each acting as one memory cell.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thefifty-ninth embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as thatof the forty-first embodiment is obtained. Furthermore, with the 2T2Ctype memory cell system, a large read margin can be attained as comparedwith the 1T1C type.

Sixtieth Embodiment

In a sixtieth embodiment, the potentials of the reset signals /RST, RSTand word lines WL0 to WL3 at the standby time are set to be lower than apotential Vpp in the same manner as in the operation described in thesecond embodiment with reference to FIG. 3. At the standby time, thepotentials at the high level continue to be applied to the resettransistors QR0, QR1 and reset transistors Q0 to Q7, and therefore thereliability of the transistor is degraded. To solve the problem, thepotential applied to each transistor at the standby time is set to belower than the potential Vpp, and the potential applied to the requiredtransistor at the active time is set to the potential Vpp.

FIG. 79 shows another example of a control method of the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of the forty-second embodiment (FIG. 53) inthe semiconductor integrated circuit device according to the sixtiethembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 79, at the standbytime, the potentials of the reset signals /RST, RST and word lines WL0to WL3 are set to be lower than the potential Vpp (e.g., Vaa). At theactive time, the word line WL1 of the selected transistor and the resetsignal RST are set to the potential Vpp. The other concrete operation isthe same as that of the forty-third embodiment (FIG. 54).

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of the sixtiethembodiment of the present invention, the same effect as that of theforty-second and forty-third embodiments is obtained. Furthermore,according to the sixtieth embodiment, the potential lower than thepotential Vpp is applied to the transistor on at the standby state. Thiscan prevent the high voltage from being continued to be applied to thetransistors and from degrading the reliability.

Sixty-First Embodiment

A sixty-first embodiment relates to a layout applicable to thefifty-fourth embodiment (FIGS. 70, 71). FIGS. 80 to 83 show the layoutwhich can be applied to the semiconductor integrated circuit device ofFIGS. 70, 71, for illustrating the sixty-first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIGS. 80 to 83 show the respective surfaces in the heightdirections of the cross sectional structures of FIGS. 70, 71 in upwardorder from the surface of the semiconductor substrate sub. The sectionalview along LXX-LXX line of FIGS. 80 to 83 corresponds to FIG. 70, andthe sectional view along LXXI-LXXI line corresponds to FIG. 71.

As shown in FIG. 80, a plurality of active regions AA are separated fromone another and arranged in a matrix form. The gate electrodes /RST,RST, WL0 to WL7, /BS, BS extend in the vertical direction of the drawingon the active region. The gate electrodes BS, /BS, WL0 extend atintervals on the active region of the rightmost column of the drawing.An impurity injected region (Imp) for setting a threshold value of thetransistor to be negative is formed in the vicinity of the channelregion in a position where the depression type transistor is formed. Inthe active region AA, the source/drain regions SD20, SD21 are positionedon opposite sides of the gate electrode BS. Similarly, the source/drainregions SD21, SD22 are positioned on the opposite sides of the gateelectrode /BS, and the source/drain regions SD22, SD23 are positioned onthe opposite sides of the gate electrode WL0.

Similarly, in each active region belonging to the same column, thesource/drain regions SD24, SD25 are positioned on the opposite sides ofthe gate electrode WL1, and the source/drain regions SD25, SD26 arepositioned on the opposite sides of the gate electrode WL2. Similarly,the source/drain regions SD27, SD28 are positioned on the opposite sidesof the gate electrode WL3, and the source/drain regions SD28, SD29 arepositioned on the opposite sides of the gate electrode WL4. Thesource/drain regions SD30, SD31 are positioned on the opposite sides ofthe gate electrode WL5, and the source/drain regions SD31, SD32 arepositioned on the opposite sides of the gate electrode WL6. Thesource/drain regions SD33, SD34 are positioned on the opposite sides ofthe gate electrode WL7, and the source/drain regions SD34, SD35 arepositioned on the opposite sides of the gate electrode RST. Thesource/drain regions SD35, SD36 are positioned on the opposite sides ofthe gate electrode /RST.

The contact P26 is formed on the source/drain region SD20. The contactsP23 are formed on the source/drain regions SD22, SD25, SD28, SD31, SD34.The contacts P21 are formed on the source/drain regions SD23, SD24,SD26, SD27, SD29, SD30, SD32, SD33. The contact P25 is formed on thesource/drain region SD36.

As shown in FIG. 81, the interconnection layers M21, for example, havingsquare shapes are disposed on the contacts P26, P23. The ferroelectriccapacitor C, for example, having the square shape is disposed on eachcontact P21. For example, the plate line PL having the square shape isdisposed above two columns of ferroelectric capacitors C between thecontacts P21 to cover them. The respective plate lines PL between thecontacts P21 are isolated from one another in FIG. 81, but are connectedto each other in a position (not shown) in the extending direction ofthe gate electrode. The plate line PL disposed above the contact P25belonging to the same column is also connected to other plate lines PL.

As shown in FIG. 82, the local bit lines LBL, /LBL are formed across theplate lines PL in the horizontal direction of the drawing. The local bitlines LBL, /LBL are disposed at an interval in the vertical direction.The contact P23 disposed between the plate lines PL connects the localbit lines LBL, /LBL to the interconnection layer M21.

As shown in FIG. 83, the bit lines BL, /BL are disposed at an intervalin the horizontal direction of the drawing. The bit lines BL, /BL areconnected to the interconnection layer M22 via the contact P28.

Note that it is also possible to apply the present embodiment to thefifty-fifth and fifty-sixth embodiments. In the fifty-fifth embodiment,for the main block selection transistor wiring MBS and power supply lineVs, the main block selection transistor wiring MBS extends in thevertical direction of the drawing at an interval from one end of each ofthe local bit lines LBL, /LBL of FIG. 82. Similarly, the power supplyline Vs extends in the vertical direction of the drawing at an intervalfrom the other end. The wirings for shunt /RST, RST, WL0 to WL7, /BS, BSof FIGS. 71, 72 are disposed on the layer further above the layers shownin FIG. 83. In the fifty-sixth embodiment, the main block selectiontransistor wiring MBS and power supply line Vs are disposed in the samelayer and direction as those of the wirings for shunt /RST, RST, WL0 toWL7, /BS, BS.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thesixty-first embodiment of the present invention, the semiconductorintegrated circuit device of FIGS. 70 to 75 can be realized, and thesame effect as that of the fifty-fourth to fifty-sixth embodiments isobtained.

Sixty-Second Embodiment

A sixty-second embodiment relates to the circuit configuration of thehierarchical word line system. FIG. 84 shows the circuit configurationof the semiconductor integrated circuit device according to thesixty-second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the circuitconfiguration in the combination of the hierarchical word line systemand shunt system.

As shown in FIG. 84, for example, there are arranged a plurality of (twoare illustrated in the drawing) sub-groups each constituted of the cellblocks CB0, CB1, bit line pair BL, /BL and sense amplifier SA having thesame configuration as that of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 7), a sub-rowdecoder for controlling these, and sub-plate line driver SRD. Moreover,with respect to these sub-groups, the main block selection transistorwiring MBS connected to the main row decoder MRD is disposed.

Note that FIG. 84 shows an example in which the sub-group is constitutedby the same configuration as that of the sixth embodiment, but it isalso possible to constitute the sub-group using the circuitconfiguration of other embodiments of the present invention.

According to the semiconductor integrated circuit device of thesixty-second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to theeffects obtained by the above-described embodiments, the effects by thehierarchical word line system and shunt system such as the decrease ofthe resistance of the signal line are obtained.

Sixty-Third Embodiment

The sixty-third embodiment of the present invention is concerned with amethod of arranging wirings in the semiconductor integrated circuitaccording to the forty-first embodiment. FIG. 85 shows the circuitconfiguration of a semiconductor integrated circuit according to thesixty-third embodiment. This circuit of FIG. 85 is similar inconfiguration to the sixty-third embodiment (FIG. 53). The circuitdiffers in that column-selecting signal lines SCL and data lines DQ(shown in thick lines) are made by processing the same wring layer asthe local bit lines /LBL and LBL. The lines SCL and DQ extend inparallel to the bit lines. The data lines DQ convey data between thesense amplifier SA and any circuit that is peripheral to thesemiconductor integrated circuit. The column-selecting signal lines SCLare connected to the column decoder (not shown). They supply signalsthat selects columns of memory cells, from which the sense amplifier SAreads data items. The data items thus read are supplied from the senseamplifier SA to the data lines DQ.

Basically, the embodiments of the present invention must have local bitlines /LBL and LBL. (Hereinafter, the local bit lines /LBL and LBL willbe referred to as “local bit lines LBL,” except for the case where onelocal bit line should be distinguished from any other.) The local bitlines LBL are made by processing a wiring layer at the level of thewiring layer M22, as is illustrated in, for example, FIGS. 72, 73 and75.

The sixty-third embodiment has cross-point cells. Thus, the local bitlines LBL are arranged at the same pitch as the cells are arranged. Thepitch at which the local bit lines LBL are arranged is rather long.Using this feature, one column-selecting signal line SCL and one dataline DQ are provided for every two local bit lines. This is acharacterizing feature of the sixty-third embodiment.

This embodiment may be so modified that column-selecting lines CSL anddata lines DQ are laid between the local bit lines LBL, though it israther difficult to do so from a design viewpoint. Alternatively, theembodiment may be modified such that the column-selecting lines and thedata lines DQ are made by processing the same wiring layer as the bitlines BL. Nevertheless, the configuration of FIG. 85 is better for thefollowing reasons. The wiring capacitance will increase, inevitablydegrading the quality of signals read, if the column-selecting lines CSLand the data lines DQ are provided between the bit lines BL, reducingthe pitch at which the bit lines BL are arranged. The capacitance ofeach local bit line LBL will indeed increase if the column-selectinglines CSL and the data lines DQ are provided between the local-bit linesLBL. Nonetheless, the local bit lines LBL are short and increase but alittle the load capacitance at the time of reading data from the entirecircuit of FIG. 85. This is because the capacitance of each local bitline LBL does not work as load capacitance that result in parasiticcapacitance in any line through which a signal flows when data is readfrom the circuit.

FIG. 85 shows the present embodiment applied to the embodiment shown inFIG. 53. Nonetheless, it can be applied to any other embodiment, too, sothat column-selecting lines CSL and data lines DQ may of course beprovided at the same level as the local bit lines LBL.

FIG. 86 shows how the column-selecting line CSL and the data lines DQare lead in a plurality of memory-cell arrays. In this instance, a senseamplifier SA is provided between every two adjacent memory-cell arraysMCA. Each sense amplifier SA operates to read data from the memory-cellarrays MCA that are located on its sides. Identical units, each composedof two memory-cell arrays MCA and one sense amplifier SA providedbetween the arrays MCA, are arranged in the horizontal direction in theplane of drawing. (In FIG. 59, only two units are illustrated.) A columndecoder CD is provided at the right end of the resultant structure. Rowdecoders RD are provided at the upper side of the structure. Eachmemory-cell array MCA comprises a plurality of identical sections, whichhave, for example, the structure shown in FIG. 85 and which are arrangedin the vertical direction in the plane of drawing.

The column-selecting lines SCL (only lines SCL0 and CSL1 are depicted inFIG. 86) extend in the horizontal direction in the plane of drawing.They pass through the memory-cell arrays MCA and connected to the columndecoder CD. Data lines DQ and /DQ extend in the horizontal direction,too, passing through the memory-cell arrays MCA and connected to thesecond sense amplifier SA2. The data liens DQ and /DQ transfers the dataamplified by one sense amplifier SA to the second sense amplifier SA2,in response to signals supplied by the column-selecting lines CSL.

FIG. 87 is a schematic sectional view of a device configuration that canbe applied to the sixty-third embodiment. Note that this sectional viewis one taken along the word lines. In this configuration, the plate linehas been made by processing M1 wiring layer, the local bit lines LBL byprocessing M2 wiring layer, the bit lines by processing the M3 wiringlayer, and the main-block selection transistor lines MBS and shunt linesWL0 to WL7 by processing the M4 wiring layer. In other words, thecolumn-selecting lines SCL and data lines DQ, all shown in FIGS. 85 and86, are formed by processing the M2 wiring layer, as the local bit linesLBL.

FIGS. 88 to 90 are sectional views of the device configuration of FIG.87, each illustrating one of the cell blocks. More precisely, FIG. 88 isa sectional view taken along the local bit line /LBL (FIG. 85), or alongline LXXXVIII-LXXXVIII shown in FIG. 87. FIG. 89 is a sectional viewtaken along the column-selecting line CSL or data line DQ (FIG. 85), oralong line LXXXIX-LXXXIX shown in FIG. 87. FIG. 90 is a sectional viewtaken along the local bit lines LBL (FIG. 85), or along line XC-XC shownin FIG. 87. Note that the FIGS. 88 and 90 are identical to FIGS. 74 and75, respectively. As FIGS. 88 and 90 depict, wiring layers /BS and BSare provided between the M1 layers that are located above the gateelectrodes /BS and BS. Thus, shunt lines /BS and BS can be formed byprocessing the M1 wiring layer. In FIGS. 88 and 90, the M1 wiring layerand the M4 wiring layer are illustrated for the sake of convenience.

As FIG. 89 shows, word lines BS, /BS, WL0 to WL7, RST and /RST areprovided above the semiconductor substrate sub. The M1 wiring layer isprovided above these word lines BS, /BS, WL0 to WL7, RST and /RST andhas been processed, forming a plate line PL. The plate line PL extendsin the horizontal direction in the plane of drawing and is connected tothe plate line PL shown in FIGS. 88 and 90. The wiring layers /BS andBS, both being parts of the M1 wiring layer, extend in the verticaldirection in the plane of drawing. The column-selecting lines CSL thedata lines DQ are made by processing the M2 wiring layer that isprovided above the M1 wiring layer. That is, the liens CSL and DQ aremade from the same wiring layer as the local bit lines /LBL and LBL are.Above the M2 wiring layer there is provided an M4 wiring layer. The M4wiring layer is processed, forming the main-block selection transistorlines MBS and constitute shunt wiring-layers Vs, MBS, BS, /BS, WL0 toWL7, RST and /RST.

The sixty-third embodiment has local bit lines LBL, like any one of theembodiments described above. The column-selecting lines CSL and the datalines DQ are made by processing the same wiring layer as the local bitlines are made, as in the embodiments described above. The sixty-thirdembodiment can therefore achieve the same advantage as the otherembodiments described above. Since the column-selecting lines CSL andthe data lines DQ are made by processing the same wiring layer as thelocal bit lines LBL, the sixty-third embodiment has another advantage,which will be described below.

Each embodiment of the present invention needs four wiring layersbecause it has local bit lines LBL. Unless these wiring layers are usedto form column-selecting lines and the data lines DQ, other wiringlayers must be provided. Note that the conventional circuit (FIG. 48)and the circuits (FIGS. 50 and 51) disclosed in the inventors' priorapplications will have four wiring layers in all, even if additionalwiring layers are used to provide column-selecting lines CSL and dataliens DQ. In the sixty-third embodiment, column-selecting lines CSL anddata lines DQ are provided in the spaces between the local bit liensLBL. The number of wiring layers used is the same as in the conventionalcircuit and the circuits disclosed in the inventors' prior applications.Having local bit lines LBL, any modification of the sixty-thirdembodiment can operate faster, without increasing the manufacturing costin spite of the use of additional wiring layers.

In the sixty-third embodiment, the column-selecting lines CSL areprovided on the memory cell-arrays MCA, without using additional wiringlayers. One column decoder CD can therefore work for all memory-cellarrays MCA provided. In semiconductor integrated circuits that have nocolumn-selecting lines on the memory-cell arrays MCA, one column decodermust be provided for each memory-cell array MCA. The area of the circuitwill inevitably increase. In contrast, the area of the circuit accordingto the sixty-third embodiment does not increase because only one columndecoder works for all memory-cell arrays MCA.

In the sixty-third embodiment, a number of data lines DQ are provided onthe memory-cell arrays MCA, without using additional wiring layers. Inany semiconductor integrated circuit that cannot have data lines on thememory-cell arrays, data can be transferred, but in a small amount, fromthe memory-cell arrays to a peripheral circuit (e.g., the second senseamplifier). This decreases the band width or renders it necessary toprovide a region for accommodating data lines. Consequently, the area ofthe circuit will increase. In the sixty-third embodiment of the presentinvention, the band width for the data to be transferred between thesense amplifier SA and the peripheral circuit can be increased, withoutproviding additional wiring layers.

Sixty-Fourth Embodiment

The sixty-fourth embodiment of the present invention relates to thelayout of elements in the semiconductor integrated circuit according tothe sixty-third embodiment (FIGS. 88 to 90). FIGS. 91 to 94 show variouselement layouts that may be applied to the sixty-third embodiment. FIGS.91 to 94 represent the element layouts at the four levels, the lowestlevel to the highest, which are shown in FIGS. 88 to 90. Note that FIGS.91 to 94 do not depict the same number of ferroelectric capacitors as inFIGS. 88 to 90. More specifically, FIGS. 91 to 94 are plan views of fourdifferent arrangements of elements at four levels, respectively. Thesixty-fourth embodiment (FIGS. 91 to 94) is identical to the sixty-firstembodiment (FIG. 80 to 83), except for the number of capacitorsprovided.

As FIG. 91 shows, gate electrodes BS, /BS, WL0 to WL15, RST and /RSTextend in the vertical direction in the plane of drawing, each spacedfrom any other in the horizontal direction. A plurality of activeregions AA are provided, each partly lying between two adjacent gateelectrodes and partly covering the lateral edges thereof. One contactP23 is provided in each active region AA. A ferroelectric capacitor C isprovided on each active region AA. A contact P21, which lay outside oftwo gate electrode sandwiching the contact P23, connects each activeregion AA to the lower electrode BE of the capacitor C provided abovethe region AA.

FIG. 92 is concerned mainly with an M1 wiring layer. As seen from FIG.92, the M1 wiring layer has been processed, forming plate lines PL andwiring layers M21. Each plate line PL consists of a rectangular mainpart and connecting parts. The connecting parts of any plate line PLconnect the main part to the main part of either adjacent plate line PL.Wiring layers M21 are provided between the main parts of any twoadjacent plate lines PL. The wiring layers M21 have been formed byprocessing the M1 wiring layer. The main part of each plate line PLextends in the vertical direction in the plate of drawing, covering twocolumns of ferroelectric capacitors C. The connecting parts of eachplate line PL extend in the horizontal direction in the plane ofdrawing, connecting the main part to the main parts of the adjacentplate lines PL. One connection part is provided for at most every eight(two in the figure) wring layers M21 that are arranged in the verticaldirection in the plane of drawing. Wiring layers BS and /BS formed byprocessing the M1 wiring layer are provided above the gate electrodes BSand /BS (FIG. 91). The wiring layer M21 located adjacent to the wiringlayer BS has been formed by processing the M1 wiring layer, too.

FIG. 93 is concerned mainly with an M2 wiring layer that lies above theM1 wiring layer. As FIG. 93 depicts, local bit lines /LBL0, LBL0, /LBL1and LBL1 lie above the main parts of the plate lines PL and extend inthe horizontal direction in the plane of drawing. The local bit lines/LBL0, LBL0, /LBL1 and LBL1 have been formed by processing the M2 wiringlayer. A column-selecting line CSL or a data line DQ is provided betweenthe local bit lines /LBL0 and LBL0. Likewise, a column-selecting lineCSL or a data line DQ is provided between the local bit lines /LBL1 andLBL1. The column-selecting line CSL and the data line DQ have beenformed by processing the M2 wiring layer.

FIG. 94 is concerned mainly with an M3 wiring layer and an M3 wiringlayer, both lying above the M2 wiring layer. As FIG. 94 shows, the bitlines /BL0, BL0, /BL1 and BL1 are provided, extending in the horizontaldirection in the plane of drawing. The bit liens /BL0, BL0, /BL1 and BL1have been formed by processing the M3 wiring layer. Above the bit lines/BL0, BL0, /BL1 and BL1 there are provided shunt lines Vs, WL0 to WL15,/RST, and RST. The shunt lines Vs, WL0 to WL15, /RST, and RST have beenformed by processing the M4 wiring layer. In the present embodiment, theshunt lines /BS and BS are formed by processing the M1 wiring layer(FIG. 92), not by processing the M4 wiring layer.

The sixty-fourth embodiment can achieve the same advantage as thesixty-first embodiment. It can provide a semiconductor integratedcircuit of the type illustrated in FIGS. 88 to 90.

In the sixty-fourth embodiment, the main parts of the plate lines PL,which extend in the vertical direction in the plane of drawing, areconnected to one another. This results in an advantage. In anyembodiment of the present invention, described above, all memory cell ofone cell block CB share one plate line PL as is illustrated in thecircuit diagram. This configuration can be realized by various elementlayouts. The simplest of these layouts is that the wiring layer to beprocessed to provide plate lines PL covers all ferroelectric capacitorsthat should be connected to the plate lines PL. To connect the activeregions AA (source-drain regions SD) to the local bit lines LBL as shownin FIGS. 81 and 92, wiring layers M21 must be formed by processing theM1 wiring layer. This is why a plate line is cut into pieces PL arrangedin the horizontal direction in the plane of drawing. In the sixty-fourthembodiment, the plate lines PL thus provided (more precisely, the mainparts of plate liens PL) are connected to one another. Hence, thecurrent broadly disperse before flowing into the ferroelectriccapacitors that should be accessed. As a result, the resistance in theplate lines PL decreases. This reduces the delay of signals andultimately prevent the degradation of wirings that may otherwise occurdue to electro-migration.

Each plate line PL may have connecting parts, each for at least twowiring layers M21 that are arranged in the vertical direction in theplane of drawing. Alternatively, each connecting part of the plate linePL may be provided for the shunt between one shunt-line wiring layer andthe gate electrode associated with this wiring layer.

In this embodiment, the plate lines PL formed by processing the M1wiring layer are connected to one another. Needless to say, the M2wiring layer may not be used to provide the column-selecting lines SCLor the data lines DQ in the present embodiment, thus modifying thecircuit as is illustrated in FIG. 95. FIG. 95 is similar to FIG. 89 interms of the positions of elements. As seen from FIG. 95, the main partsof the plate lines PL are spaced apart in the horizontal direction inthe plane of drawing and are electrically connected to one another. Eachplate line PL has connecting parts. However, neither thecolumn-selecting lines CSL nor the data lines DQ are formed byprocessing the M2 wiring layer.

Sixty-Fifth Embodiment

The sixty-fifth embodiment of the present invention is a method ofcontrolling the semiconductor integrated circuits according to theembodiments described above. First, two methods known as Return to Zero(RTZ) and Non-return to Zero (NRTZ), respectively, will be explained.

The NRTZ method can be applied to the conventional ferroelectric memoryshown in FIG. 44. In this method, the cell transistor of any memory cellselected assumes the standby state, while the bit-line potential remainsat high level for writing data “1” into the memory cell. That is, theferroelectric capacitor of this memory cell comes into the floatingstate, with the bit-line potential remaining at high level, when theword line is turned off. As a result, the ferroelectric capacitor holdsa high-level charge. This electric charge makes it possible to writedata “1” reliably into the memory cell even after the cell transistorassumes the standby state.

In the RTZ method, the cell transistor of the memory cell selectedassumes the standby state after the bit-line potential falls to lowlevel so that data “1” may be written again into the memory cell. Theferroelectric memory shown in FIG. 50 and disclosed in the inventors'prior application can employ the RTZ method only. This is because theferroelectric capacitor of any memory cell selected is short-circuitedat both ends when the transistor of the memory cell is turned on even ifthe high-level potential is applied to one end of the ferroelectriccapacitor. Consequently, the ferroelectric capacitor no longer holdeselectric charge. Thus, the ferroelectric memory of FIG. 50 cannot becontrolled by the NRTZ method. Unlike the NRTZ method, the RTZ methodcannot secure a sufficient time required to write writing data “1” againinto the memory cells.

FIGS. 96 to 98 illustrate how the semiconductor integrated circuitaccording to the first embodiment (FIG. 1) operates when controlled bythe method according to the sixty-fifth embodiment. To be more specific,FIG. 96 shows the operating characteristic of the semiconductorintegrated circuit controlled by the method. FIG. 97 explains how thememory cell including ferroelectric capacitor Q3 assumes the standbystate when it is selected. FIG. 98 explains how the memory cell selectedand including ferroelectric capacitor Q2 assumes the standby state afterthe memory cell including ferroelectric capacitor Q3 has been selected.

As seen from FIG. 97, each memory cell assumes the same state as in theother embodiments (see FIG. 2) until data is read from it. If the memorycell holds data “1,” its polarized state changes from point D to point Eshown in FIG. 96, whereby the data is read from the memory cell. If thememory cell holds data “0,” its polarized state changes from point A topoint B, whereby the data is read from the memory cell. Thereafter,sense operation is carried out. If the data is “0,” it is written againinto the memory cell. The polarized state of the memory cell thenchanges from point -B to point C. Next, the potential of the plate linePL is set to low level. Then, the data read from the memory cell iswritten again into the cell if it is “1.” As a result, the polarizedstate of the memory cell changes from point E to point F.

Next, the block selection signal BS is set to low level and thepotential of the word line WL3 selected is set to low level. Theelectric charge, or “1” data, is therefore accumulated in the cell nodeSN3. Thereafter, the potentials of the word lines WL0, WL1 and WL2, notselected, are set to high level, and the reset signal RST is set to highlevel. This causes the cell node SN3 to short-circuit the ferroelectriccapacitors C0, C1 and C2 at both ends, though the cell node SN3 remainsin floating state.

Then, a timer circuit, for example, is used, setting the word line WL3to high potential upon lapse of a predetermined time. The ferroelectriccapacitor C3 is thereby short-circuited, too, at both ends. Thus, thepotential difference between the ends of each ferroelectric capacitor isreset upon lapse of some time. The ferroelectric capacitors C0, C1 andC2 not selected accumulate no disturb voltage. No problems will arisefrom disturb voltage.

The sixty-fifth embodiment can achieve the same advantage as the firstembodiment. In the sixty-fifth embodiment, the ferroelectric capacitorof any memory cell selected assumes the floating state. Theferroelectric capacitor is shorted-circuited at both ends upon lapse ofthe predetermined time. Hence, the cell node of the memory cell selectedcan accumulate the charge for a certain time. That is, the semiconductorintegrated circuit can be controlled by the NRTZ method. As a result,the data can be written again into the memory cell more reliably than inthe case where the circuit is controlled by the RTZ method. Thisenhances the reliability of the semiconductor integrated circuit.

Another mode of controlling the semiconductor integrated circuit will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 98. As FIG. 98 shows, the word line WL3is selected in the first active time. When the word line WL3 is set tolow potential thereafter, the cell node SN3 holds an electric charge. Inthe next active time, data-reading and -writing is performed on the wordline WL2, while keeping the word line WL3 at low potential. Next, theword line WL2 is set to low potential, whereby the cell node SN2 holdsan electric charge. Any memory cell connected to the word line WL2therefore assumes the standby state. The word line WL3 is set to highpotential upon lapse of a predetermined time after it was set to lowpotential. Similarly, the word line WL2 is set to high potential uponlapse of a predetermined time after it was set to low potential. Thus,the semiconductor integrated circuit can be controlled by the RTZ methodeven if data items are continuously read from one cell block.

In the case of FIG. 98, the word line WL3 is set to high potential atthe end of the period for which the word line WL2 remains selected.Nonetheless, any word line selected may be held at low potential as longas possible so that the NRTZ method may control the semiconductorintegrated circuit. The word line WL2 remains in the standby state for apredetermined time. Upon lapse of this time, the word line WL2 is setback to high level.

Sixty-Sixth Embodiment

The sixty-sixth embodiment of the present invention is concerned withvarious circuit configurations that may be applied to the circuitaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 99 illustrates a circuit configuration that can be applied to thesemiconductor integrated circuit according to the first embodiment. AsFIG. 99 shows, transmission gates TQ0 to TQ3, TQR and TQS are used inplace of the cell transistors Q0 to Q3, reset transistor QR and blockselection transistor QS, all shown in FIG. 1. The transmission gate TQ0is composed of N-type MOS (NMOS) transistor QN0 and P-type MOS (PMOS)transistor QP0. The transmission gate TQ1 is composed of NMOS transistorQN1 and PMOS transistor QP1. The transmission gate TQ2 is composed ofNMOS transistor QN2 and PMOS transistor QP2. The transmission gate TQ3is composed of NMOS transistor QN3 and PMOS transistor QP3. Thetransmission gate TQR is composed of NMOS transistor QNR and PMOStransistor QPR. The transmission gate TQS is composed of NMOS transistorQNS and PMOS transistor QPS. In each transmission gate, the NMOStransistor and the PMOS transistor are connected in parallel to eachother. The circuit configuration is identical to that of the firstembodiment in any other respects.

The cell transistors Q0 to Q3, reset transistor QR and block selectiontransistor QS may be NMOS transistors as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Inthis case, the signals on the word lines WL0 to WL3, the reset signalRST and the block selection signal BS must have a larger operatingamplitude than the signals on the bit lines BL and local bit lines LBL.Otherwise, the cell transistors Q0 to Q3, reset transistor QR and blockselection transistor QS would have their threshold voltage inevitablylowered. (This decrease in threshold voltage is known as“threshold-voltage drop.”) Should threshold-voltage drop occur, theoperating reliability of the cell transistors Q0 to Q3, reset transistorQR and block selection transistor QS might decrease. To avoid thisconsequence, the cell transistors Q0 to Q3, reset transistor QR andblock selection transistor QS should have a thicker gate insulating filmthan the transistors of the peripheral circuits, in order to acquireresistance to high voltages.

No threshold-voltage drop takes place in the sixty-sixth embodiment. Thesignals on all word lines WL, the reset signal RST and the block selectsignal BS can therefore have the same operating amplitude as the bitlines BL and local bit lines LBL. This results in three advantages.First, the cell transistors Q0 to Q3, reset transistor QR and blockselection transistor QS can acquire high reliability. Second, notransistors need to have a thick gate insulating film, which helps toreduce the manufacturing cost of the circuit. Third, the operating speedof the circuit rises because the cell transistors Q0 to Q3 and the likecan be small ones.

The sixty-sixth embodiment has been explained, as applied to the firstembodiment. Nevertheless, it can be applied to any embodiment other thanthe first embodiment. Moreover, the transmission gates can of course bereplaced by PMOS transistors as is illustrated in FIG. 100 and FIG. 101.

Sixty-Seventh Embodiment

The sixty-seventh embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More specifically, the sixty-seventh embodiment is adigital camera or digital video camera, which incorporates asemiconductor integrated circuit according to the embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 102 shows the digital camera or digital video camera 600. As seenfrom FIG. 102, the digital camera or digital video camera 600 includesan image-inputting device 601, a data-compressing device 602, an FeRAM603, an input/output device 604, a display 605, and a system bus BUS.The system BUS connects the image-inputting device 601, data-compressingdevice 602, FeRAM 603, input/output device 604 and display 605 to oneanother.

The image-inputting device 601 is a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device), a CMOS(Complementary MOS) sensor, or the like. The data-compressing device 602compresses the video data input to it from the image-inputting device601. The FeRAM 603 is constituted by a semiconductor integrated circuitaccording to any one of the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. The FeRAM 603 is used as amemory that stores the video data compressed by the data-compressingdevice 602, control codes, or a buffer memory, and the like. Theinput/output device 604 can output the video data compressed, and caninput video data it has received from external apparatuses. The display605 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and display imagesrepresented by the video data input or by the video data compressed.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operateas fast as desired in a digital camera or a digital video camera, if itis used as a memory or a buffer memory. This is because video data andcontrol codes must be quickly processed in any digital camera or anydigital video camera. The FeRAM according to the embodiments of thepresent invention operates faster than the conventional one, and cantherefore work well as a memory or a buffer memory in a digital cameraor a digital video camera.

Sixty-Eighth Embodiment

The sixty-eighth embodiment of the present invention is anotherapparatus that incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuitsaccording to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first tosixty-sixth embodiments. To be more specific, the sixty-eighthembodiment is a computer system that incorporates a semiconductorintegrated circuit according to the embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 103 depicts the computer system 701 according to the sixty-eighthembodiment. As FIG. 103 shows, the computer system 701 includes amicroprocessor 702, an FeRAM 703, an input/output device 704, a RAM 705,a ROM 705, and a system bus BUS. The system bus BUS connects themicroprocessor 702, FeRAM 703, input/output device 704, RAM 705 and ROM706 to one another.

The microprocessor 702 performs various arithmetic operations. The FeRAM703 is constituted by a semiconductor integrated circuit (FeRAM)according to any one of the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. The FeRAM 703 is used as a datamemory that stores control codes used in the computer system 701. Theinput/output device 704 receives data from, and supplies data to,external apparatuses. The RAM 705 is, for example, a high-speed SRAM ora high-speed DRAM. It is used, if necessary, as RAM in which data can berewritten more times than in FeRAMs, or as RAM which operates fasterthan FeRAMs. The ROM 706 stores the OS (Operating System), Chinesecharacter data and the like, which need not be rewritten.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operateas fast as desired in a computer system, if used as a data memory thatstores control codes. The FeRAM according to the embodiments of thepresent invention operates faster than the conventional one, and cantherefore work well as a data memory in a computer system.

Sixty-Ninth Embodiment

The sixty-ninth embodiment of the present invention is still anotherapparatus that incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuitsaccording to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first tosixty-sixth embodiments. More precisely, the sixty-ninth embodiment is asystem LSI that incorporates a semiconductor integrated circuitaccording to the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 104 depicts a microprocessor chip 801 according to the sixty-ninthembodiment of the present invention. As FIG. 104 shows, themicroprocessor chip 801 includes a microprocessor core 802 and amicro-code (control-code) memory 803. The microprocessor core 802 andthe micro-code memory 803 are provided in a single chip. Themicroprocessor core 802 performs various arithmetic operations. It hasI/O ports for receiving data from, and supplying data to, othermicroprocessor chips. The micro-code memory 803 is constituted by asemiconductor integrated circuit (FeRAM) according to any one of thefirst to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. The micro-code memory 803 stores various micro-codes,without which the microprocessor core 802 cannot perform its function.The micro-codes can be changed, making it easy to alter the instructionsto the microprocessor core 802.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operateas fast as desired in a microprocessor, if used as micro-code memorythat stores and supplies control codes. The FeRAM according to theembodiments of the present invention operates faster than theconventional one, and can therefore work well as micro-code memory in amicroprocessor.

Seventieth Embodiment

The seventieth embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus thatincorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits according tothe first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More particularly, the seventieth embodiment is a portablecomputer system that incorporates a semiconductor integrated circuitaccording to the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 105 illustrates a portable computer system 901 according to theseventieth embodiment. As FIG. 105 shows, the portable computer system901 includes a microprocessor/controller 902 (hereinafter refereed to as“microprocessor”), an input device 903, a transceiver 904, an antenna905, a display 906, and an FeRAM 907.

The microprocessor 902 performs various arithmetic operations. Connectedto the microprocessor 902, the input device 903 inputs data to themicroprocessor 902. The input device 903 includes a hand-touch device, akey-input device, an audio-data input device and a video-data inputdevice using a CCD. The transceiver 904 is connected to themicroprocessor 902. The transceiver 904 receives data from, andtransmits data to, external apparatuses through the antenna 905. Thetransceiver 904 is of such a type as is used in mobile telephones or thelike, which can receive and transmit electric waves. The display 906 isconnected to the microprocessor 902 and is, for example, an LCD or aplasma display. The FeRAM 907 is constituted by a semiconductorintegrated circuit (FeRAM) according to any one of the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. TheFeRAM 907 stores various control codes, without which the microprocessor902 cannot perform its function. The FeRAM 907 is used as a data memoryor a buffer memory.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operateas fast as desired in a portable computer system, if used as acontrol-code memory, a data memory or a buffer memory. The FeRAMaccording to the embodiments of the present invention operates fasterthan the conventional one, and can therefore work well as a control-codememory, data memory or buffer memory micro-code memory in a portablecomputer system.

Seventy-First Embodiment

The seventy-first embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More specifically, the seventy-first embodiment is a logicvariable LSI.

FIG. 106 depicts a logic variable LSI 1000 according to theseventy-first embodiment. As FIG. 106 shows, the logic variable LSI 1000includes logic units 1001 and FeRAMs 1002. The logic units 1001 performdifferent logic operations. Each FeRAM 1002 is associated with one logicunit 1001. The logic units 1001 and the FeRAMs 1002 are provided in asingle chip. Each of the FeRAMs 1002 is constituted by a semiconductorintegrated circuit (FeRAM) according to any one of the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. TheFeRAMs 1002 store algorithms of logic operations.

The logic unit of, for example, an FPD (Field Programmable Gate Device)or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can accomplish thereconfiguration of a logic operation. The algorithm memory of a logicvariable LSI stores algorithm data representing a logic operation. Thealgorithm memory must be so designed that the algorithm data may be fastread from it. The conventional FeRAM cannot operate as fast as desiredin a logic variable LSI, if used as algorithm memory. The FeRAMaccording to the embodiments of the present invention operates fasterthan the conventional one, and can therefore work well as algorithmmemory in a logic variable LSI.

The FeRAMs 1002 may be provided over the chip 1000 so that each of theFeRAMs 1002 work for each of the logic unit 1001 as is illustrated inFIG. 106 or positioned in one place. Alternatively, one FeRAM 1002 maybe provided for a module.

Seventy-Second Embodiment

The seventy-second embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. To be more specific, the seventy-second embodiment is an ICcard.

FIG. 107 depicts an IC card 1100 according to the seventy-secondembodiment of the present invention. As FIG. 107 shows, the IC card 1100comprises a card main and an IC chip 1101 provided in the card main. TheIC chip 1101 incorporates a FeRAM 1102. The FeRAM 1102 is one of thesemiconductor integrated circuits (FeRAMs) according to the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. TheFeRAM 1102 is used as data memory in the IC card 1100.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operateas fast as desired in an IC card, if used as data memory. The FeRAMaccording to the embodiments of the present invention operates fasterthan the conventional one, and can therefore work well as data memory inan IC card.

Seventy-Third Embodiment

The seventy-third embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More particularly, the seventy-third embodiment is anavigation system for use in automobiles.

FIG. 108 shows an automobile 1206 incorporating a navigation system 1200according to the seventy-third embodiment. As seen from FIG. 108, thenavigation system 1200 includes a data-acquiring device 1201, a computer(control device) 1202, an FeRAM 1203, a display 1204, and an operationdevice 1205.

The data-acquiring device 1201 is configured to acquire data that a GPS(Global Positioning System) uses to determine the position of theautomobile 1206. The data-acquiring device 1201 includes sensorsembedded in various sections of the automobile 1206. The data-acquiringdevice 1201 further includes, for example, a CCD and acquires video datarepresenting the images of any object that surrounds the automobile1206.

Data that the device 1201 has acquired is supplied to the computer 1202.The computer 1202 processes the data in accordance with the variouscodes stored in the FeRAM 1203, detecting the position of the automobile1206, recognizing the objects surrounding the automobile 1206 anddetermining whether any object may make an obstacle to the automobile1206. The computer 1202 may be, for example, the computer systemillustrated in FIG. 103.

The navigation system 1200 may be designed to achieve automatic drivingof the automobile 1206. If this is the case, the computer 1202determines the positions of various objects near the automobile 1206,from the video data that the data-acquiring device 1201 has acquired.Hence, the computer 1202 can guide the automobile 1206 to an appropriateposition.

The FeRAM 1203 is one of the semiconductor integrated circuits (FeRAMs)according to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first tosixty-sixth embodiments. The computer 1202 causes the display 1204 todisplay images that indicate the positions detected and determined. Thedisplay 1204 is, for example, an LCD. The operation device 1205 includesa hand-touch unit, a key-input unit, an audio-data input unit and avideo-data input unit, which are operated to input data to the computer1202.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operateas fast as desired in car-navigation, automatic car-driving or automaticrecognition of objects. The FeRAM according to the embodiments of thepresent invention operates faster than the conventional one, and cantherefore work as desired in car-navigation, automatic car-driving orautomatic recognition of objects.

Seventy-Fourth Embodiment

The seventy-fourth embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More precisely, the seventy-fourth embodiment is anindustrial or public-welfare robot.

FIG. 109 illustrates a robot 1300 according to the seventy-fourthembodiment. As FIG. 109 shows, the robot 1300 includes an arm 1301, adrive device 1302, a computer (control device) 1303, an FeRAM 1304, anda sensor device 1305.

The arm 1301 can move in various ways to perform a variety of work. Thedrive device 1302 drives and controls the arm 1301. The FeRAM 1304stores control codes that the computer uses to control the drive device1302. The FeRAM 1304 is one of the semiconductor integrated circuits(FeRAMs) according to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. The computer 1302 controls thedrive device 1302 in accordance with the control codes stored in theFeRAM 1304. The computer 1303 may be, for example, the computer systemillustrated in FIG. 103.

The sensor device 1305 detects the positions of any objects existingaround the robot 1300. It detects the position of the arm 1301, too. Thedata that the sensor device 1305 generates data representing thesepositions. This data is supplied to the computer 1303. The computer 1303uses this data and the data stored in the FeRAM 1304, recognizing thepositions of the objects. In accordance with the positions it hasrecognized, the computer 1303 determines how the arm 1301 should bemoved next, or how the position of the arm 1301 should be adjusted.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operatefast enough to move the arms of any robot so swiftly as desired or torecognize the positions around the robot so quickly as desired. TheFeRAM according to the embodiments of the present invention operatesfaster than the conventional one and can therefore make the computer1202 move robots' arms swiftly and recognize the positions around therobot so quickly.

Seventy-Fifth Embodiment

The seventy-fifth embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More precisely, the seventy-fifth embodiment is a displaysuch as a television display.

FIG. 110 depicts a display 1400 according to the seventy-fifthembodiment of the present invention. As seen from FIG. 110, the display1400 includes an FeRAM 1401, a computer 1402, a video-data processingdevice 1403, and a display device 1404.

The FeRAM 1401 is provided to store control codes that the computer 1402may use and video data that the video-data processing device 1403 mayprocess. The FeRAM 1401 is one of the semiconductor integrated circuits(FeRAMs) according to the first to thirty-sixth embodiments andforty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. The computer 1402 controls thedata processing device 1403 in accordance with various control codesstored in the FeRAM 1401, causing the device 1403 to process video data.The video-data processing device 1403 processes video signals suppliedfrom external sources by radio or through communication network (e.g.,the Internet). The signals processed by the device 1403 are supplied tothe computer 1402. The computer 1402 uses the signals supplied from thedevice 1403, controlling the display device 1404. The display device1404 includes a display such as an LCD and a drive unit for driving thedisplay. The display device 1404 displays images under the control ofthe computer 1402.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It cannot operatefast enough in processing video data representing high-resolutionimages. The FeRAM according to the embodiments of the present invention,which operates faster than the conventional one, can serve to processvideo data at high speed.

Seventy-Sixth Embodiment

The seventy-sixth embodiment of the present invention is an apparatusthat incorporates one of the semiconductor integrated circuits accordingto the first to thirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixthembodiments. More specifically, the seventy-sixth embodiment is anoptical disk drive.

FIG. 111 shows an optical disk drive 1501 according to the seventy-sixthembodiment of the present invention. As FIG. 111 shows, the optical diskdrive 1501 includes an optical head 1502, a drive device 1504, acomputer 1505, an FeRAM 1506, and a video-data processing device 1507.

The optical head 1502 applies a laser beam to the optical disk 1503provided in the optical disk drive 1501, to write data on, and read datafrom, the optical disk 1503. The drive device 1504 drives the opticalhead 1502 over the optical disk 1503. The computer 1505 controls thedrive device 1504 in accordance with the data stored in the FeRAM 1506,such as various control codes. The computer 1303 may be, for example,the computer system illustrated in FIG. 103. The FeRAM 1401 is one ofthe semiconductor integrated circuits (FeRAMs) according to the first tothirty-sixth embodiments and forty-first to sixty-sixth embodiments. Thevideo-data processing device 1507 expands compressed video data andcompresses the video data to be written on the optical disk 1503. TheFeRAM 1506 can temporarily store video data.

The conventional FeRAM cannot operate at high speed. It can hardly serveto accomplish high-speed data processing or high-speed data compression.The FeRAM according to the embodiments of the present invention, whichoperates faster than the conventional one, can serve to process videodata at high speed and compress video data at high speed.

Various configurations can be realized by combining individualinventions used in all of the embodiments although they are notexplained with reference to the drawings in the above embodiments.Further, the configuration is indicated to store one-bit information byuse of one transistor and one ferroelectric capacitor. However, it ispossible to use a system in which one-bit information is stored by useof two cells by driving two types of block selection signals and platesignals. Also, a multi-value system conventionally proposed can beapplied to each of the above embodiments.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a first memorycell block which includes: a plurality of first memory cells each ofwhich includes a cell transistor having a gate terminal connected to aword line and ferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a sourceterminal of the cell transistor, a first reset transistor having asource terminal connected to a first plate line and a drain terminalconnected to a first local bit line with drain terminals of the celltransistors of the first memory cells used as the first local bit lineand each of the other end of the ferroelectric capacitors used as thefirst plate line, and a first block selection transistor having a sourceterminal connected to the first local bit line and a drain terminalconnected to a first bit line.
 2. The device according to claim 1,wherein the cell transistors are ON in a standby time and the celltransistors other than the cell transistor of selected one of the firstmemory cells are OFF in an active time.
 3. The device according to claim2, wherein the first reset transistor is ON and the first blockselection transistor is OFF in the standby time.
 4. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the first plate line is at ground potential in astandby time and potential of the word lines of non-selected ones of thefirst memory cells are lower than potential of the word line of aselected one of the first memory cells in an active time.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein potential of the first plate line ishigher than ground potential in a standby time.
 6. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein potential of the first plate line is driven from alow level to a high level and from the high level to the low level in anactive time.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first blockselection transistor is ON in an active time.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the first local bit line is provided above theferroelectric capacitor.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein thefirst local bit line is provided below the ferroelectric capacitor. 10.The device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor integratedcircuit device in claim 1 is formed on a semiconductor substrate and alogic circuit is formed on the semiconductor substrate.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a second memory cell blockwhich includes: a plurality of second memory cells each of whichincludes a cell transistor having a gate terminal connected to the wordline and a ferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a sourceterminal of the cell transistor of the second memory cell, a secondreset transistor having a source terminal connected to a second plateline and a drain terminal connected to a second local bit line withdrain terminals of the cell transistors of the second memory cells usedas the second local bit line and the other end of each of theferroelectric capacitors used as the second plate line, and a secondblock selection transistor having a source terminal connected to thesecond local bit line and a drain terminal connected to a second bitline, wherein a first block selection signal supplied to a gate terminalof the first block selection transistor is different from a second blockselection signal supplied to a gate terminal of the second blockselection transistor.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein thecell transistors are ON in a standby time and the cell transistors otherthan the cell transistor of selected one of the first memory cells areOFF in an active time.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein thefirst reset transistor is ON and the first block selection transistor isOFF in the standby time.
 14. The device according to claim 11, whereinthe first plate line is at ground potential in a standby time andpotential of the word lines of non-selected ones of the first memorycells are lower than potential of the word line of a selected one of thefirst memory cells in an active time.
 15. The device according to claim11, wherein potential of the first plate line is higher than groundpotential in a standby time.
 16. The device according to claim 11,wherein potential of the first plate line is driven from a low level toa high level and from the high level to the low level in an active time.17. The device according to claim 11, wherein potential of the firstplate line or the second plate line is driven from a low level to a highlevel and from the high level to the low level in an active time. 18.The device according to claim 11, wherein the first block selectiontransistor or the second block selection transistors is ON in an activetime.
 19. The device according to claim 11, wherein the first local bitline and the second local bit line are provided above the ferroelectriccapacitor.
 20. The device according to claim 11, wherein the first localbit line and the second local bit line are provided below theferroelectric capacitor.
 21. The device according to claim 11, whereinthe semiconductor integrated circuit device in claim 11 is formed on asemiconductor substrate and a logic circuit is formed on thesemiconductor substrate.
 22. A semiconductor integrated circuit devicecomprising: a first memory cell block which includes: a plurality offirst memory cells each of which includes a cell transistor having agate terminal connected to a word line and a ferroelectric capacitorconnected at one end to a source terminal of the cell transistor, afirst reset transistor having a source terminal connected to a firstpower supply and a drain terminal connected to a first local bit linewith drain terminals of the cell transistors used as the first local bitline and the other end of each of the ferroelectric capacitors used as afirst plate line, and a first block selection transistor having a sourceterminal connected to the first local bit line and a drain terminalconnected to a first bit line.
 23. The device according to claim 22,wherein the cell transistors are ON in a standby time and the celltransistors other than the cell transistor of selected one of the firstmemory cells are OFF in an active time.
 24. The device according toclaim 23, wherein the first reset transistor is ON and the first blockselection transistor is OFF in the standby time.
 25. The deviceaccording to claim 24, wherein potential of the first power supply isequal to potential of the first plate line in a standby time.
 26. Thedevice according to claim 22, wherein the first plate line is at groundpotential in a standby time and potential of the word lines ofnon-selected ones of the first memory cells are lower than potential ofthe word line of a selected one of the first memory cells in an activetime.
 27. The device according to claim 22, wherein potential of thefirst plate line is higher than ground potential in a standby time. 28.The device according to claim 22, wherein potential of the first plateline is driven from a low level to a high level and from the high levelto the low level in an active time.
 29. The device according to claim21, wherein the first block selection transistor is ON in an activetime.
 30. The device according to claim 22, wherein the first local bitline is provided above the ferroelectric capacitor.
 31. The deviceaccording to claim 22, wherein the first local bit line is providedbelow the ferroelectric capacitor.
 32. The device according to claim 22,wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit device in claim 22 isformed on a semiconductor substrate and a logic circuit is formed on thesemiconductor substrate.
 33. The device according to claim 22, furthercomprising a second memory cell block which includes: a plurality ofsecond memory cells each of which includes a cell transistor having agate terminal connected to the word line and a ferroelectric capacitorconnected at one end to a source terminal of the cell transistor of thesecond memory cell, a second reset transistor having a source terminalconnected to the first power supply and a drain terminal connected to asecond local bit line with drain terminals of the cell transistors ofthe second memory cells used as the second local bit line and the otherend of each of the ferroelectric capacitors used as a second plate line,and a second block selection transistor having a source terminalconnected to the second local bit line and a drain terminal connected toa second bit line, wherein a first block selection signal supplied to agate terminal of the first block selection transistor is different froma second block selection signal supplied to a gate terminal of thesecond block selection transistor.
 34. The device according to claim 33,wherein the cell transistors are ON in a standby time and the celltransistors other than the cell transistor of selected one of the firstmemory cells are OFF in an active time.
 35. The device according toclaim 34, wherein the first reset transistor is ON and the first blockselection transistor is OFF in the standby time.
 36. The deviceaccording to claim 35, wherein potential of the first power supply isequal to potential of the first plate line in a standby time.
 37. Thedevice according to claim 33, wherein the first plate line is at groundpotential in a standby time and potential of the word lines ofnon-selected ones of the first memory cells are lower than potential ofthe word line of a selected one of the first memory cells in an activetime.
 38. The device according to claim 33, wherein potential of thefirst plate line is higher than ground potential in a standby time. 39.The device according to claim 33, wherein potential of the first plateline is driven from a low level to a high level and from the high levelto the low level in an active time.
 40. The device according to claim33, wherein potential of the first plate line or the second plate lineis driven from a low level to a high level and from the high level tothe low level in an active time.
 41. The device according to claim 33,wherein the first block selection transistor or the second blockselection transistor is ON in an active time.
 42. The device accordingto claim 33, wherein the first local bit line and the second local bitline are provided above the ferroelectric capacitor.
 43. The deviceaccording to claim 33, wherein the first local bit line and the secondlocal bit line are provided below the ferroelectric capacitor.
 44. Thedevice according to claim 33, wherein the semiconductor integratedcircuit device in claim 33 is formed on a semiconductor substrate and alogic circuit is formed on the semiconductor substrate.
 45. Asemiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a memory cell arrayhaving a first memory block and a second memory cell block each of whichincludes: a plurality of memory cells each of which includes a celltransistor having a gate terminal connected to a word line and aferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a source terminal of thecell transistor, and a block selection transistor having a sourceterminal connected to a local bit line with drain terminals of the celltransistors used as the local bit line and the other end of each of theferroelectric capacitors used as a plate line, wherein drain terminalsof the block selection transistors of the first memory cell block andthe second memory cell block are connected to a bit line, the celltransistors and block selection transistors of the first memory cellblock and the second memory cell block are ON in a standby time, and theblock selection transistor of the first memory cell block is OFF and thecell transistor of the memory cell other than one selected one of thememory cells in the first memory cell block is OFF in an active time.46. The device according to claim 45, wherein the local bit line isprovided above the ferroelectric capacitor.
 47. The device according toclaim 45, wherein the local bit line is provided below the ferroelectriccapacitor.
 48. The device according to claim 45, wherein thesemiconductor integrated circuit device in claim 45 is formed on asemiconductor substrate and a logic circuit is formed on thesemiconductor substrate.
 49. The device according to claim 11, furthercomprising: a first amplification transistor having a gate connected tothe first local bit line, a drain connected to the second bit line and asource connected to a first power supply and a second amplificationtransistor having a gate connected to the second local bit line, a drainconnected to the first bit line and a source connected to the firstpower supply or a second power supply.
 50. The device according to claim49, wherein first data is read out from a selected one of the firstmemory cells to the first local bit line by selecting the first plateline in an active time, a first amplification signal generated byamplifying the first data by use of the first amplification transistoris read out to the second bit line, a second amplification signalcomplementary to the first amplification signal is supplied to the firstbit line by amplifying the first amplification signal by use of a senseamplifier connected to the first bit line and the second bit line, andthe second amplification signal is supplied to the selected first memorycell via the first block selection transistor, the first data beingrewritten into the selected first memory cell.
 51. The device accordingto claim 33, further comprising: a first amplification transistor havinga gate connected to the first local bit line, a drain connected to thesecond bit line and a source connected to a first power supply and asecond amplification transistor having a gate connected to the secondlocal bit line, a drain connected to the first bit line and a sourceconnected to the first power supply or a second power supply.
 52. Thedevice according to claim 51, wherein first data is read out from aselected one of the first memory cells to the first local bit line byselecting the first plate line in an active time, a first amplificationsignal generated by amplifying the first data by use of the firstamplification transistor is read out to the second bit line, a secondamplification signal complementary to the first amplification signal issupplied to the first bit line by amplifying the first amplificationsignal by use of a sense amplifier connected to the first bit line andthe second bit line, and the second amplification signal is supplied tothe selected first memory cell via the first block selection transistor,the first data being rewritten into the selected first memory cell. 53.The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second memory cellblock which includes: a plurality of second memory cells each of whichincludes a cell transistor having a gate terminal connected to the wordline and a ferroelectric capacitor connected at one end to a sourceterminal of the cell transistor, a second reset transistor having asource terminal connected to the first plate line and a drain terminalconnected to a second local bit line with drain terminals of the celltransistors of the second memory cells used as the second local bitline, and a second block selection transistor having a source terminalconnected to the second local bit line and a drain terminal connected toa second bit line.
 54. The device according to claim 53, wherein thecell transistors are ON in a standby time and the cell transistors otherthan the cell transistor of selected one of the first memory cells areOFF in an active time.
 55. The device according to claim 53, wherein thefirst reset transistor and the second reset transistor are ON and thefirst block selection transistor and the second block selectiontransistor are OFF in a standby time.
 56. The device according to claim53, wherein adjacent two first memory cell blocks are connected to thefirst plate line.
 57. The device according to claim 53, wherein thefirst local bit line and the second local bit line are provided abovethe ferroelectric capacitor.
 58. The device according to claim 53,wherein the first local bit line and the second local bit line areprovided below the ferroelectric capacitor.
 59. The device according toclaim 53, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit device in claim53 is formed on a semiconductor substrate and a logic circuit is formedon the semiconductor substrate.
 60. A semiconductor integrated circuitdevice comprising: a memory cell block which includes: a plurality ofmemory cells each of which includes a cell transistor having a gateterminal connected to a word line and a ferroelectric capacitorconnected at one end to a source terminal of the cell transistor, areset transistor having a source terminal connected to a plate line anda drain terminal connected to a local bit line with drain terminals ofthe cell transistors used as the plate line and the other end of each ofthe ferroelectric capacitors used as the local bit line, and a blockselection transistor having a source terminal connected to the local bitline and a drain terminal connected to a bit line.
 61. The deviceaccording to claim 60, wherein the cell transistors are ON in a standbytime and the cell transistors other than the cell transistor of selectedone of the memory cells are OFF in an active time.
 62. The deviceaccording to claim 60, wherein the reset transistor is ON and the firstblock selection transistor is OFF in a standby time.
 63. The deviceaccording to claim 60, wherein adjacent two memory cell blocks areconnected to the plate line.
 64. The device according to claim 60,wherein the local bit line is provided above the ferroelectriccapacitor.
 65. The device according to claim 60, wherein the local bitline is provided below the ferroelectric capacitor.
 66. The deviceaccording to claim 60, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuitdevice in claim 60 is formed on a semiconductor substrate and a logiccircuit is formed on the semiconductor substrate.
 67. A semiconductorintegrated circuit device comprising: a memory cell group including aplurality of memory cell units each of which includes: a plurality ofmemory cells each of which includes a cell transistor having a gateterminal connected to a word line and a ferroelectric capacitorconnected at one end to a source terminal of the cell transistor withthe other end of the ferroelectric capacitor used as a first terminaland a drain of the cell transistor as a second terminal, and a resettransistor having a source terminal connected to a third terminal and adrain terminal connected to a fourth terminal, one of the first terminaland the second terminal of the memory cells being connected to the thirdterminal and the other end being connected to the fourth terminal,wherein the memory cell units are series-connected with the thirdterminal and the fourth terminal used as its two terminals, one end ofthe memory cell group is connected to a plate line and the other end isconnected to a bit line via a memory cell group selection transistor.68. The device according to claim 67, wherein the reset transistor ofeach of the memory cell units in the memory cell group are controlled bydifferent signals.
 69. The device according to claim 67, wherein gatesof the memory cell group selection transistors in two memory cell groupsrespectively connected to two bit lines forming a bit line pair arecontrolled by different signals, and the plate lines in two memory cellgroups are controlled by different signals.
 70. The device according toclaim 67, wherein all the cell transistors and all the reset transistorsare ON and all the memory cell group selection transistors are OFF in astandby time.
 71. The device according to claim 67, wherein in an activetime in the selected memory cell group, the cell transistors of thememory cells other than the selected memory cell and the memory cellsconnected to the word line of the selected memory cell are OFF, thereset transistor of the memory cell unit including the selected memorycell is OFF, the memory cell group selection transistor is ON, and theplate line is driven.
 72. The device according to claim 67, wherein thesemiconductor integrated circuit device in claim 60 is formed on asemiconductor substrate and a logic circuit is formed on thesemiconductor substrate.
 73. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe first bit line is connected to a sense amplifier, a column-selectingline or a data line is disposed in a same wiring layer as the firstlocal bit line, the column-selecting line is provided to select a signalread to the sense amplifier and a signal to be written into the firstmemory cells, and the data line is provided to read signals from thesense amplifier.
 74. The device according to claim 11, wherein the firstbit line and the second bit line are connected to a sense amplifier, acolumn-selecting line or a data line is disposed in a same wiring layeras the first local bit line and the second local bit line, thecolumn-selecting line is provided to select a signal read to the senseamplifier and a signal to be written into the first memory cells, andthe data line is provided to read signals from the sense amplifier. 75.The device according to claim 53, wherein the first bit line and thesecond bit line are connected to a sense amplifier, a column-selectingline or a data line is disposed in a same wiring layer as the firstlocal bit line and the second local bit line, the column-selecting lineis provided to select a signal read to the sense amplifier and a signalto be written into the first memory cells, and the data line is providedto read signals from the sense amplifier.
 76. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the first bit line is provided in plurality, the firstplate line is provided in plurality, the first plate lines are connectedto each other by a conductive layer provided above and between the firstmemory cells which line up along the bit lines, and the conductive layeris provided for at most every eight first bit lines.
 77. The deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the first bit line is provided inplurality, the first plate line is provided in plurality, the firstplate lines are connected to each other by a conductive layer providedabove and between the first memory cells which line up along the bitlines, and the conductive layer is provided for at most every eightfirst bit lines.
 78. The device according to claim 53, wherein the firstbit line is provided in plurality, the first plate line is provided inplurality, the first plate lines are connected to each other by aconductive layer provided above and between the first memory cells whichline up along the bit lines, and the conductive layer is provided for atmost every eight first bit lines.
 79. The device according to claim 1,wherein the cell transistor of the first memory cell selected in activetime remains off when another first memory cell is selected after datahas been written into or read from the memory cell selected.
 80. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein the cell transistor of any firstmemory cell selected in active time remains off when another firstmemory cell is selected after data has been written into or read fromthe memory cell selected.
 81. The device according to claim 53, whereinthe cell transistor of any first memory cell selected in active timeremains off when another first memory cell is selected after data hasbeen written into or read from the memory cell selected.
 82. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the cell transistors, the first resettransistor and the first block selection transistor are N-type MOStransistors.
 83. The device according to claim 11, wherein the celltransistors, the first reset transistor, the second reset transistor,the first block selection transistor and the second block selectiontransistor are N-type MOS transistors.
 84. The device according to claim53, wherein the cell transistors, the first reset transistor and thefirst block selection transistor are N-type MOS transistors.
 85. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the cell transistors, the firstreset transistor, the first block selection transistor are P-type MOStransistors.
 86. The device according to claim 11, wherein the celltransistors, the first reset transistor, the second reset transistor,the first block selection transistor and the second block selectiontransistor are P-type MOS transistors.
 87. The device according to claim53, wherein the cell transistors, the first reset transistor, the firstblock selection transistor are P-type MOS transistors.
 88. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the cell transistors, the first resettransistor and the fist block selection transistor are each composed ofa P-type MOS transistor and an N-type MOS transistor which are connectedin parallel.
 89. The device according to claim 11, wherein the celltransistors, the first reset transistor, the second reset transistor,the first block selection transistor and the second block selectiontransistor are each composed of a P-type MOS transistor and an N-typeMOS transistor which are connected in parallel.
 90. The device accordingto claim 53, wherein the cell transistors, the first reset transistorand the fist block selection transistor are each composed of a P-typeMOS transistor and an N-type MOS transistor which are connected inparallel.
 91. A digital camera comprising: a video-data input devicewhich acquires video data; a data-compressing device which compressesvideo data; a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim1, which stores video data and control codes; a display device whichdisplays images represented by video data; and an input/output devicewhich receives data from and transmits data to external apparatuses. 92.A digital camera comprising: a video-data input device which acquiresvideo data; a data-compressing device which compresses video data; asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 11, whichstores video data and control codes; a display device which displaysimages represented by video data; and an input/output device whichreceives data from and transmits data to external apparatuses.
 93. Adigital camera comprising: a video-data input device which acquiresvideo data; a data-compressing device which compresses video data; asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 53, whichstores video data and control codes; a display device which displaysimages represented by video data; and an input/output device whichreceives data from and transmits data to external apparatuses.
 94. Adigital video camera comprising: a video-data input device whichacquires video data; a data-compressing device which compresses videodata; a semiconductor integrated circuit device of the type described inclaim 1, which stores video data and control codes; a display devicewhich displays images represented by video data; and an input/outputdevice which receives data from and transmits data to externalapparatuses.
 95. A digital video camera comprising: a video-data inputdevice which acquires video data; a data-compressing device whichcompresses video data; a semiconductor integrated circuit device of thetype described in claim 11, which stores video data and control codes; adisplay device which displays images represented by video data; and aninput/output device which receives data from and transmits data toexternal apparatuses.
 96. A digital video camera comprising: avideo-data input device which acquires video data; a data-compressingdevice which compresses video data; a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice of the type described in claim 53, which stores video data andcontrol codes; a display device which displays images represented byvideo data; and an input/output device which receives data from andtransmits data to external apparatuses.
 97. A computer systemcomprising: a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim1, which stores control codes and data; a microprocessor unit whichprocesses data and performs arithmetic operations in accordance with thecontrol codes; and an input/output device which outputs data suppliedfrom the microprocessor unit, to external apparatuses, and whichsupplies data received from the external apparatuses, to themicroprocessor unit.
 98. A computer system comprising: a semiconductorintegrated circuit device according to claim 11, which stores controlcodes and data; a microprocessor unit which processes data and performsarithmetic operations in accordance with the control codes; and aninput/output device which outputs data supplied from the microprocessorunit, to external apparatuses, and which supplies data received from theexternal apparatuses, to the microprocessor unit.
 99. A computer systemcomprising: a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim53, which stores control codes and data; a microprocessor unit whichprocesses data and performs arithmetic operations in accordance with thecontrol codes; and an input/output device which outputs data suppliedfrom the microprocessor unit, to external apparatuses, and whichsupplies data received from the external apparatuses, to themicroprocessor unit.
 100. A portable computer system comprising: asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1, whichstores control codes and data; a microprocessor unit which processesdata and performs arithmetic operations in accordance with the controlcodes; an input device configured to input signals to the microprocessorunit; a display device which displays information; a transceiver whichconverts signals supplied from the microprocessor unit, to signals thatare suitable for radio transmission, and converts signals transmitted byradio, to signals that are suitable for being processed; and an antennawhich receives and transmits radio waves.
 101. A portable computersystem comprising: a semiconductor integrated circuit device accordingto claim 11, which stores control codes and data; a microprocessor unitwhich processes data and performs arithmetic operations in accordancewith the control codes; an input device configured to input signals tothe microprocessor unit; a display device which displays information; atransceiver which converts signals supplied from the microprocessorunit, to signals that are suitable for radio transmission, and convertssignals transmitted by radio, to signals that are suitable for beingprocessed; and an antenna which receives and transmits radio waves. 102.A portable computer system comprising: a semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to claim 53, which stores control codes anddata; a microprocessor unit which processes data and performs arithmeticoperations in accordance with the control codes; an input deviceconfigured to input signals to the microprocessor unit; a display devicewhich displays information; a transceiver which converts signalssupplied from the microprocessor unit, to signals that are suitable forradio transmission, and converts signals transmitted by radio, tosignals that are suitable for being processed; and an antenna whichreceives and transmits radio waves.
 103. A logic variable LSI devicecomprising: a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim1, which stores logic operation data of a logic circuit; and a logiccircuit which is able to alter logic operations to accomplish logicoperation in accordance with the logic operation data.
 104. A logicvariable LSI device comprising: a semiconductor integrated circuitdevice according to claim 11, which stores logic operation data of alogic circuit; and a logic circuit which is able to alter logicoperations to accomplish logic operation in accordance with the logicoperation data.
 105. A logic variable LSI device comprising: asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 53, whichstores logic operation data of a logic circuit; and a logic circuitwhich is able to alter logic operations to accomplish logic operation inaccordance with the logic operation data.
 106. An IC card comprising: acard; and a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim1, which is used as memory.
 107. An IC card comprising: a card; and asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 11, which isused as memory.
 108. An IC card comprising: a card; and a semiconductorintegrated circuit device according to claim 53, which is used asmemory.
 109. A navigation system for use in an automobile, comprising: adata-acquiring device which acquires position data for determining theposition of the automobile; a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to claim 1, which stores control codes and data; a computerwhich processes the position data in accordance with the control codes,thereby to determine the position of the automobile; a display devicewhich displays information including the position of the automobile; andan operation device which is operated to input signals for controllingthe computer.
 110. A navigation system for use in an automobile,comprising: a data-acquiring device which acquires position data fordetermining the position of the automobile; a semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to claim 11, which stores control codes anddata; a computer which processes the position data in accordance withthe control codes, thereby to determine the position of the automobile;a display device which displays information including the position ofthe automobile; and an operation device which is operated to inputsignals for controlling the computer.
 111. A navigation system for usein an automobile, comprising: a data-acquiring device which acquiresposition data for determining the position of the automobile; asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 53, whichstores control codes and data; a computer which processes the positiondata in accordance with the control codes, thereby to determine theposition of the automobile; a display device which displays informationincluding the position of the automobile; and an operation device whichis operated to input signals for controlling the computer.
 112. A robotcomprising: an arm which performs operations to an object; a drivedevice which drives the arm; a sensor device which detects a position ofthe arm and a position of the object and which generates position datarepresenting these positions; a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to claim 1, which stores control codes and data; and acomputer which processes the position data in accordance with thecontrol codes and which controls the drive device in accordance with thedata processed.
 113. A robot comprising: an arm which performsoperations to an object; a drive device which drives the arm; a sensordevice which detects a position of the arm and a position of the objectand which generates position data representing these positions; asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 11, whichstores control codes and data; and a computer which processes theposition data in accordance with the control codes and which controlsthe drive device in accordance with the data processed.
 114. A robotcomprising: an arm which performs operations to an object; a drivedevice which drives the arm; a sensor device which detects a position ofthe arm and a position of the object and which generates position datarepresenting these positions; a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to claim 53, which stores control codes and data; and acomputer which processes the position data in accordance with thecontrol codes and which controls the drive device in accordance with thedata processed.
 115. An image display device comprising: a video-dataprocessing device which receives video signals, processes the videosignals and generates display signal; a display device which displaysthe images represented by the display signal; a semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to claim 1, which stores control codes anddata; and a computer which controls the video-data processing device andthe display device in accordance with the control codes.
 116. An imagedisplay device comprising: a video-data processing device which receivesvideo signals, processes the video signals and generates display signal;a display device which displays the images represented by the displaysignal; a semiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 11,which stores control codes and data; and a computer which controls thevideo-data processing device and the display device in accordance withthe control codes.
 117. An image display device comprising: a video-dataprocessing device which receives video signals, processes the videosignals and generates display signal; a display device which displaysthe images represented by the display signal; a semiconductor integratedcircuit device according to claim 53, which stores control codes anddata; and a computer which controls the video-data processing device andthe display device in accordance with the control codes.
 118. An opticaldisk drive comprising: an optical head which reads data from and writesdata on an optical disk; a drive device which drives the optical head; adata-processing device which compresses data to be written on theoptical disk and restores compressed data read from the optical disk; asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 1, whichstores control codes and data; and a computer which controls thedata-processing device and the driven device in accordance with thecontrol codes.
 119. An optical disk drive comprising: an optical headwhich reads data from and writes data on an optical disk; a drive devicewhich drives the optical head; a data-processing device which compressesdata to be written on the optical disk and restores compressed data readfrom the optical disk; a semiconductor integrated circuit deviceaccording to claim 11, which stores control codes and data; and acomputer which controls the data-processing device and the driven devicein accordance with the control codes.
 120. An optical disk drivecomprising: an optical head which reads data from and writes data on anoptical disk; a drive device which drives the optical head; adata-processing device which compresses data to be written on theoptical disk and restores compressed data read from the optical disk; asemiconductor integrated circuit device according to claim 53, whichstores control codes and data; and a computer which controls thedata-processing device and the driven device in accordance with thecontrol codes.